Washington, D.C.– Matt Seaholm, President and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s implementation of reciprocal tariffs:
“The plastics industry supports President Trump’s goal of revitalizing American manufacturing, and our industry is aligned with that mission. We supply the essential tools and materials needed to build more products, create more jobs, and strengthen our economy right here at home. Plastics manufacturers produce the materials, components, and equipment that fuel nearly every other manufacturing sector in the U.S.—from semiconductors and automobiles to medical devices and consumer goods. We don’t just support American manufacturing; we make it possible.
“In the spirit of supporting policies that encourage American manufacturing, our industry urges a thoughtful, strategic approach to trade and tariffs. The plastics industry is a cornerstone of U.S. manufacturing and a critical contributor to our economy. In 2023, the U.S. plastics industry exported $74.2 billion in goods—more than it imported—resulting in a trade surplus of nearly $1 billion.
“These new tariffs will disrupt supply chains, increase production costs, and undermine our global competitiveness. Rather than imposing across-the-board tariffs that will harm American manufacturers and stifle growth, we encourage the administration to consider more targeted policies that take into account supply chains, promote investment, and maintain growth in U.S. manufacturing.”
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) supports the entire plastics supply chain, including Equipment Suppliers, Material Suppliers, Processors, and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $519 billion U.S. industry. PLASTICS advances the priorities of our members who are dedicated to investing in technologies that improve capabilities and advances in recycling and sustainability and providing essential products that allow for the protection and safety of our lives. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members, and the eighth largest U.S. manufacturing industry, more globally competitive while supporting circularity through educational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, convening opportunities and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE: The Plastics Show.
