Plastics under pressure U.S. tariff expansion poses challenges for plastics industryThe U.S. expansion of Section 232 tariffs adds new complexity for the plastics industry. Plastics Chief Economist Perc Pineda, PhD, explains how the measures affect machinery imports, national security, and the future competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing. New Section 232 tariffs reshape U.S. plastics machinery trade, adding complexity for importers while highlighting the industry’s reliance on foreign equipment and its role in national security. (Source: free licensed / PixabayThe U.S. Department of Commerce has widened the scope of Section 232 steel and aluminium tariffs, a move that could have far-reaching implications for the plastics industry. Pineda points out that plastics also fall under this remit, with U.S. federal defence spending on plastics reaching 5.7 billion dollars last year.