Steve Toloken

Plastic imports could be hit with new 10 or 12.5 percent tariffs from a U.S. investigation of forced labor practices. More tariffs on manufacturing loom, with the results of a US probe of global overcapacity expected soon.

Plastic pipe maker Aquatherm said it was following bankers' advice when it applied for a second COVID-19 loan to pay salaries, a loan that the federal government said it was not eligible for.

Environmental groups are seeking to intervene in the federal court challenge to California's SB-343 recyclability labeling law.

The Trump administration could be proposing more tariffs on industrial machinery, with a national security review of factory equipment and robotics set to finish in September.

A third state, Colorado, faces a federal lawsuit over its packaging EPR law, joining Oregon and California.

Four Senate Democrats want to establish a federal task force on boosting markets for recycled plastic and the traceability of recycled plastic in products, which some see as an alternative to industry-backed legislation on recycled content marketing.

A challenge to Oregon's plastics and packaging EPR law from Lollicup USA is on hold, waiting on a final decision on a similar case expected in August.

While California officials clearly prefer mechanical recycling, they are trying to balance the need for chemical recycling to play a role.

The Association of Plastic Recyclers says a proposed federal task force on plastic could jump start discussion on the economic benefits of recycling.

New legislation from Congressional Democrats seeks to set national rules for when the chasing arrows symbol and other recyclability marking can be used in packaging.