Page 47 - Plastics News March 2025
P. 47
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
of U.S. exports to Canada beginning March 4, to the U.S. Census Bureau’s trade statistics.
echoing the country’s response before the tar-
iffs were delayed in February. Those responsive Outside the plastics space, the U.S. imported
tariffs are set to increase later this month if the 112,000 short tons of aluminum beverage cans
U.S. action continues. from Canada and 442,000 tons of scrap alu-
minum altogether, according to the trade fig-
In a news conference, Canadian Prime Minister ures, and 66,000 short tons of used beverage
Justin Trudeau added that he is talking with pro- cans and 226,000 short tons of scrap aluminum
vincial governments about “several non-tariff from Mexico.
measures, measures which will demonstrate
that there are no winners in a trade war.” Additionally, the U.S. imported just over 1 million
short tons of recovered paper from Canada, pri-
Additionally, in a March 3 executive order Trump marily corrugated cardboard and mixed paper,
also doubled the recently enacted 10% tariff on and, according to the trade figures.
Chinese imports to 20%. Trump has framed the
tariff as a response to the flow of fentanyl and “It’s a very integrated market,” Shaffer said. “The
other drugs from China into the U.S., and the new business model has long been North America-
executive order says the country has “not taken based.”
adequate steps to alleviate the illicit drug crisis ReMA and other recycling trade associations,
through cooperative enforcement actions.”
including the Bureau of International Recycling,
The move drew immediate retaliatory tariffs have longstanding positions opposing trade
from China, whose foreign ministry on March barriers. “Generally, there is the expectation
4 issued a harsh rebuke during a press confer- that any tariffs will reduce trade, one way or the
ence: “If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff other,” Shaffer said, adding less trade is likely to
war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re lead to less investment by recycling companies.
ready to fight till the end.”
The Canadian Association of Recycling Indus-
Industry braces for ‘severe’ disruption tries, which represents companies across the re-
cycling sector, said the tariffs will have “serious
In a March 4 interview, Adam Shaffer, assistant economic consequences as we’ve been com-
vice president for international trade and global municating, including for our recycled materials
affairs at ReMA, said the industry group is con- industry, an industry which does not in any way
cerned there could be “significant, severe dis- cause a national security threat.”
ruptions” from the tariffs.
“These punitive economic measures will hurt the
With all commodities taken into account, the recycled materials and manufacturing industries,
U.S. remains a net exporter of recycled mate- as well as other key sectors, which are deeply
rials. But it still imports substantial volumes of integrated with the U.S. market, and weaken
specific commodities: In 2024, the U.S. imported economic ties that have benefited both nations
393 million pounds of scrap plastic, primarily PET for decades,” the organization wrote in a state-
and mixed plastics, from Canada, and 158 million ment.
pounds of scrap plastic from Mexico, according
March 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 47
