EuPC alert: EU tariffs threaten plastics processing

The European Plastics Converters (EuPC) is sounding the alarm over the European Commission’s proposed tariffs on plastic polymer imports from the US, calling them a direct threat to Europe’s plastics converting industry – and the 1.6 million jobs it supports.

“These tariffs risk triggering a chain reaction of price hikes, reduced competitiveness, and job losses across the EU,” said Paolo Bochicchio, EuPC Managing Director. “They could seriously undermine Europe’s industrial and environmental goals.”

What’s at stake?
- Raw material costs will skyrocket, hurting 95% of the industry made up of SMEs;
- Imports of cheaper finished plastic goods will surge, further weakening EU manufacturers;
- Thousands of jobs and critical supply chains – in food, medical, transport, and construction – are at risk;
- Investments in recycling and circularity will stall, hitting Europe’s green ambitions.

Tehrefore, EuPC’s message to Brussels is the following: scrap the tariffs, support SMEs with cost-offsets, secure stable raw material supply and level the playing field if tariffs move ahead – including for finished goods.

“This is not the time to destabilise an industry that’s key to Europe's resilience, sustainability, and global competitiveness,” added Bochicchio.