en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chet Thompson, President and CEO of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), stated at the International Petrochemical Conference (IPC) in San Antonio on Monday that the association has established several policy goals for 2026. These include improving the national chemical safety program and finalizing a global plastics waste treaty. These goals follow a series of policy achievements in 2025, as the association navigates disruptions caused by current conflicts.

Thompson emphasized that current conflicts threaten lives, disrupt trade, and expose the fragility of global supply chains. "We need a proactive solution. The stakes are simply too high for our nation, for consumers, and for American manufacturing," he said. He added that the U.S. petrochemical industry currently maintains access to domestic energy and feedstocks, which helps stabilize supply and support allies.

Regarding chemical safety, AFPM is committed to reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). "It's time for this statute to work for us and be far more efficient than it is today," Thompson noted. This year, Congress must reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) fee program, providing an opportunity for TSCA reform.

In trade, AFPM is focused on the review process of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Thompson stated that the review creates conditions for renewing the agreement and removing trade barriers, and the association will advocate for a fair, open, and predictable trade environment. "Tariffs are not good for our industry," he mentioned.

On sustainability, AFPM is promoting the recognition of chemical recycling as a manufacturing process and supporting negotiations for a global plastics waste treaty. "Collaboration with the government has brought us close to an agreement, and I am confident we will achieve it this year or early next," Thompson said. Relevant United Nations committees have begun informal meetings, with formal sessions expected in 2026 or 2027.

Thompson also reviewed AFPM's policy achievements, including the 2025 tax reform legislation and executive orders, which have enhanced the industry's competitiveness. "Our industry is better positioned today to lead and compete at a critical time. We are not done, far from it," he stated. The IPC conference concluded on Tuesday.

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