The tariff situation is rapidly evolving. The Executive Order announced by the White House on April 2, 2025 to go into effect April 5 imposed a 10% general tariff on nearly all products imported into the US. This was to be followed by additional tariffs that would vary depending on the country. All of these may change as a result of currently ongoing negotiations.
In Annex II to the Executive Order, the White House exempted certain strategic goods. Most organic chemicals, polymers, and fabricated plastic products are not on this list and are not exempt.
Annex II is available from https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Annex-II.pdf
Exempted strategic goods included semiconductors, critical raw materials like copper, zinc and platinum, pharmaceuticals, and lumber.
Exempted products in HS 27 were LNG, liquefied propane, liquefied butanes, liquefied ethylene/propylene/butylene, and other liquefied petroleum gases.
Exempted products in HS 39, which covers nearly all polymers, were limited to:
- HS 39019090, a non-elastomeric ethylene copolymer
- Polyacetals
- Polyamides
- Silicones
- PET, bottle and film/fiber grade
Key products among those NOT exempted:
HS 28 – caustic soda, soda ash.
HS 29 – ethylene, propylene, butylene, butadiene, aromatics, EDC, VCM, acids, alcohols, acetates, acrylates, anhydrides, glycols, BPA, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, paraformaldehyde, acetone, MEK, MIBK, acrylonitrile, isocyanates, caprolactam.
HS 39 – except for the five exclusions noted above, NOT exempted were all grades of polyethylene and polypropylene, all styrenic polymers, PVC, polycarbonate, PMMA, and fabricated plastic products identifiable by polymer.
HS 40 – all synthetic rubber products.
From International Trader Publications.