EPA recently announced 2025 allowances for production and consumption, including importation, of hydrofluorocarbons under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, as well as 2025 penalties for companies that didn’t comply with HFC phasedown regulations.
Because China makes 90% of anode and cathode materials, and dominates processing of critical minerals, no matter where they are mined, recent hikes in tariffs on Chinese minerals will do little, trade experts agreed.
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices on Oct. 18:
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, without naming Trump, criticized his economic approach, saying a broad-based tariff would be like a sales tax.
President Donald Trump will be receptive to Sen. Bill Cassidy's proposal to impose a carbon border tax, predicted Dave Banks, a former energy and environment expert in the National Economic Council and National Security Council during the first Trump term.
Two analysts from Rhodium Group said it's quite possible the Commerce Department will give "special authorization" to Volvo and Polestar so that those cars, manufactured in the U.S., can still be sold in 2027 and beyond.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao urged U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo this week to lift U.S. semiconductor export restrictions against China (see 2211010042 and 2302020034) and reverse its proposed import restrictions on Chinese connected vehicles (see 2409220001), saying the two countries need to reach a clearer understanding around their national security-related trade policies.
The American Chemistry Council said that 90% of liquid chemicals imported and exported go through ports that are closed by the dockworkers strike. "The chemicals that are shipped to and from these ports are used by every segment of the world's economy, including chemistry needed to support healthcare, advanced energy, agriculture, auto manufacturing, building and construction, household products, aerospace and defense, semiconductor chips and electronics, and more," the trade group said. The imports and exports in 2022 were worth more than $100 billion.
More than 70 members of the House of Representative are asking the administration to ask the European Union to delay its deforestation reporting requirements, which they say would be impossible to meet for wood chips and fluff pulp, used in menstrual pads and diapers.
The chair and co-chair of the House Select Committee on China told an audience of Uyghur activists and others concerned about Chinese human rights abuses that they are pleased recommendations from their committee have become legislation.