WASHINGTON (December 14, 2021) – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the Ethylene is Essential for Chemistry and Manufacturing Act by Reps. John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Dan Meuser (R-PA.). The legislation would exempt ethylene from new Superfund excise taxes imposed on 42 chemicals, critical minerals, and metallic elements as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“We welcome the Ethylene is Essential for Chemistry and Manufacturing Act and commend Congressmen Moolenaar and Meuser for their leadership on this critical issue for America’s economy. Ethylene is a versatile ‘building block’ chemical used in the manufacture of final products such as vehicle and appliance parts, building materials, detergents, medical equipment and supplies, antifreeze, housewares, and consumer electronics. It’s vital to a variety of industries.
“While the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will help modernize our nation’s infrastructure, an important goal that we can all agree on, it also imposes new Superfund excise taxes on 42 chemicals, critical minerals, and metallic elements—materials used in manufactured goods, including the very items needed for infrastructure development and climate progress.
“As a consequence of these new taxes, U.S. manufacturing competitiveness is threatened by countries such as China, and consumers will pay more for everyday products when they are already struggling with surging inflation and rising prices. These misguided taxes single out the chemical industry, which has been a driver of U.S. investment and job growth over the past decade.”
