US chem groups urge Trump to support local production, cut red tape

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Chemical trade groups in the US urged President-Elect Donald Trump to pursue policies that would support more domestic production and provide regulatory certainty.

“Chemistry enables affordable housing, reliable infrastructure and effective, modern healthcare technologies. It is not only the driving force behind everyday products like smartphones and computers, but it is also what helps keep our nation safe and less dependent on foreign countries,” the American Chemistry Council (ACC) said in a statement congratulating Trump on his victory.

“To meet that demand and protect America’s future, we will work with the Trump administration and new Congress to commit to policies that support growing domestic chemical production right here at home,” the group said.

The Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) also congratulated Trump and said it looked forward to working with the administration and Congress to provide regulatory certainty, strengthen chemical security and renew trade programs.

The ACD did not specify the trade programs.

However, the chemical industry has long advocated the revival of two programs, the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB).

The GSP eliminated duties on thousands of products from more than 100 developing countries. The MTB temporarily reduced or suspended import tariffs on specific products.

In regards to security, the ACC and the ACD have urged Congress to revive the nation’s main anti-terrorism program for chemical sites, which is known as the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS).

The program helped the chemical industry protect their plants, warehouses and distribution centers from terrorist attacks. Because CFATS was a federal program, it discouraged the proliferation of individual state programs, which would have increased compliance costs.

The ACD and the ACC have warned about the surge in regulations that occurred under the administration of US President Joe Biden. Many of them have provided the industry with little benefit while increasing compliance costs.

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) also congratulated Trump. “The US needs strong refining, petrochemical and midstream energy industries, and that requires a policy environment that allows American energy to compete globally, innovate for consumers and extend US energy leadership and security for the betterment of the American people,” said Chet Thompson, CEO of the AFPM.

(adds AFPM’s comments, paragraph 11)