(February 2, 2025 - Washington, D.C.) – Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) President Robin K. Wiener released the following statement today, following the issuance of executive orders on Saturday by President Trump that impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent tariffs on imports from China:
“The Recycled Materials Association has long supported free and fair trade policies, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that entered into force in 2020. While we understand the Trump Administration must focus on solutions to address major problems at the border, such as fentanyl trafficking, the imposition of tariffs on our North American trading partners will significantly disrupt U.S. manufacturing and recycling operations that depend on recycled material inputs.
“The U.S. recycled materials industry is a net exporter and supports 500,000 jobs nationwide, with the exports of recyclables helping to reduce the U.S. trade deficit. U.S. recyclers benefit greatly from the North American market access that the USMCA provides, access that these tariffs will put at risk.
“Each year, more than $8 billion in recycled materials cross the U.S.-Canada border, while nearly $3.3 billion of recycled products cross the U.S.-Mexico border. These new tariffs, and any retaliatory measures they may provoke, will only reduce the competitiveness of our industry and the manufacturers that rely on recycled materials.
“We look forward to continuing to engage with the new administration and Congress to work toward a bright future for American recycled materials companies and the businesses they support.”
###
The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) represents more than 1,700 companies in the U.S. and 40 countries around the globe. Based in Washington, D.C., ReMA provides advocacy, education, safety and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycled materials play in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development.