Joe Biden

Federal government launches plastics-waste-reduction strategy / Reduction of SUPs primary target

Foreign trade with China starts to crumble under weight of Western sanctions / Hopes pinned on emerging BRICS infrastructure

Drastic slump in incoming orders for plastics machinery in 2023 / Ulrich Reifenhäuser confirmed as VDMA chairman

US accelerates campaign against “forever chemicals” / Will avalanche of class action lawsuits hit manufacturers?

In search of cargo space: a story of Chinese EV exports and skyrocketing freight rates

EU tariffs on Chinese EV imports thrown into doubt / European Commission delays decision on levy

US confirms 100% tariffs on imports of made-in-China EVs

US hikes tariffs on Chinese imports / Shortage of freight space causes prices to rise

Technological imports reach historic heights, thanks partly to Germany, Italy / Fresh US sanctions hurt, but not cripple, trade with Asia, Turkey

UN declares DuPont and Chemours violated human rights for contaminating water / EPA sets new drinking water standards

Environmental Protection Agency steps up action against chemical companies / 218 plants affected

Follow-up: 16 Republican states sue Biden administration over planned LNG export pause / Regulatory process claimed circumvented

Winners of funding announced for first 50 hydrogen projects in 24 states / Electrolysers, fuel cells lead the list / European companies also participating

Qatar plans expansion despite pricing woes / Europe may need LNG for 50 more years / US pause in export terminal approvals challenged

US calls “temporary” halt to new LNG export terminals / Existing units to remain onstream / Energy department plans study on international climate impact of US gas

The plastics industry continues to work in a state of emergency / Slumps in demand, cheap imports and ever-new regulations make life difficult for producers and processors / Producers on the other side of the Atlantic also face more difficulties

Launch of new thrust for environmental justice through the back door / Campaign to be folded into Inflation Reduction Act

Hamburg port workers start wildcat strike / Maersk job cuts to exceed 10,000 / Good news from the US

Washington announces plans for USD 7 bn hydrogen network / Details include 7 regional hubs, few European partners / Social issues play role in contracting

US seeks to unseat Europe as frontrunner in the race to ‘net zero' / Energy Department publishes hydrogen strategy paper / Generous subsidies under Inflation Reduction Act

EPA presents framework plan to remedy ‘forever chemicals' contamination / Solvay cracks USD 393 mn deal with New Jersey for past offences

Abrupt end to EPA's Environmental Justice Campaign for Gulf Chemicals belt / Court filing claims issues resolved

Q2 sales expectations shrink / Economic conditions “challenging” / Offtake deal for bio-ethylene

Biden administration introduces recycling proposals / Senate submits reclaim legislation / Greenpeace calls for decisive action against plastics waste exports

Biden wants domestic bio-based polymer dominance by 2024 / Plan details follow executive order from September 2022