US industry groups criticize broad scope of new US tariffs (UPDATES, adds ACC comment)

In a statement on April 3, the organization said: "As the new tariff framework takes effect, specialty chemical manufacturers face significant uncertainty. Many Socma members now face a significant increase in the cost of the raw materials they rely on-materials that are not normally available on a large scale within the United States. […] We urge the government to adopt a strategic, industry-oriented approach-ensuring affordable raw material supplies, promoting supply chain resilience, and leveraging the unique value of the specialty chemicals industry."

PIA predicts tariffs will hurt U.S. manufacturing.

PIA President and CEO Matt Seiholm said in a public statement: "These new tariffs will disrupt supply chains, increase production costs, and weaken our global competitiveness. We encourage the administration to consider more targeted policies that take supply chains into account, promote investment, and sustain the growth of U.S. manufacturing, rather than impose across-the-board tariffs that hurt U.S. manufacturers and dampen economic growth."

sihomme called for a "thoughtful and strategic approach to trade and tariffs".

The Non-Aligned Movement highlighted the uncertainty created by the new tariffs, but did not make a judgement on their ultimate impact.

"It goes without saying that today's announcement is highly complex, and manufacturers are working to determine the specific impact it will have on their operations," Jay Timmons, president and CEO, said in a public statement. "The high cost of new tariffs threatens investment, jobs, supply chains, and thus the ability of the United States to surpass other countries and become a manufacturing superpower of excellence."

at the same time, Timmons offered a series of goals consistent with those expressed by the Trump administration in its rationale for the tariff plan.

"To enhance the ability of manufacturers to drive the U.S. economy, the administration should... minimize the cost of tariffs for manufacturers investing and expanding in the United States; ensure that critical inputs used by manufacturers to produce products in the United States can enter the United States tariff-free; and negotiate 'zero-for-zero' tariffs on U. S.-made products in our trading partners' markets," Timmons said, to get better terms for manufacturers-which means they don't charge us, and we don't charge them."

the American Chemistry Council (ACC) took a relatively noncommittal view, saying it would review the announcement in detail to determine its impact on the U.S. chemical industry.

The group said on April 2: "The ACC wants to work constructively with the administration on a pro-growth trade agenda to reduce vulnerabilities in US supply chains while negotiating new measures that benefit domestic production and employment. By working together, we can address unfair trade practices and expand science-based regulatory approaches that give US production and exports an advantage that will continue to strengthen our competitiveness."