Over his first four weeks in office, President Donald Trump signed a number of executive orders that reduce regulatory burdens on American job creators. Such a vision will help reinvigorate the economy and the nation’s industrial base. Of course, these orders will help all industries, but are particularly needed to reverse the damage done by the previous administration to the plastics sector.   

Plastics were a targeted casualty of the Biden administration’s war on manufacturing. Excessive and inconsistent regulations resulted in hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars going toward government bureaucracy rather than jobs and innovation. Instead of crippling the industry, policymakers must make it easier to affordably and cleanly produce plastics domestically. 

In a noteworthy move in early February, the president signed a reversal of the Biden administration’s policy that had essentially prohibited plastic straws. This executive order marked a clear shift in how the new administration will treat plastics compared to the previous one.  

This is a strong first step toward correcting how the federal government treats a backbone of the country’s manufacturing base. This shift makes sense. Plastics support more than 26% of all manufacturing and more than 700,000 well-paying jobs, with salaries averaging almost $70,000 per year. These are jobs that are essential for a strong middle class.  

First, plastics play a critical role in manufacturing, allowing for the creation of products that millions of Americans depend on. For example, in health care, plastics make possible miracle products such as custom prosthetics, as well as everyday products like medical tubing. In the food industry, advanced packaging materials – made with plastics – let Americans transport foods farther. It also helps them keep them longer, slashing food waste and providing Americans with diverse foods sourced from across the nation. There are similar examples in every industry, including automotives, construction, aerospace, clothing, machinery – the list goes on. 

Second, the U.S. plastics industry is favorable for international trade. Producing more plastic domestically will also help accomplish a key trade priority of the president without needing a single tariff. American plastics are in demand worldwide. The industry also exports finished goods and component products across the globe, resulting in more money for the American economy. 

Third, plastics are necessary for American national security. The water supply, electrical grid, and telecommunications networks all depend on critical plastic components. American military equipment and specialized clothing, such as bullet proof vests, also depend on plastics.   

Given all of this, one would have expected the prior administration to do everything in its power to cultivate a thriving domestic plastics industry. Instead, the Biden administration implemented overlapping and costly regulations that constrained domestic manufacturing opportunities, suppressing job opportunities and stifling innovation.  

As Trump moves forward after his joint address to Congress, he should call on lawmakers and agencies to do everything in their power to ensure a steady supply of plastics produced in the U.S. One way to support greater domestic plastic manufacturing is through policies and rules that incentivize advanced recycling of plastics in the US. Through innovative technologies, new, virgin-quality plastics can be manufactured out of used plastics. Promoting advanced recycling will contribute to the reliable domestic supply of plastics the country needs for the full range of its manufacturing needs.   

In addition to regulatory changes, Congress can enact legislation that supports advanced recycling to modernize outdated recycling infrastructure. This would increase the use of recycled material in new products, while significantly reducing plastic waste. The current state of recycling in the U.S. is a fragmented mess, spanning 9,000 jurisdictions with inconsistent recycling practices. Some bipartisan proposals floated would create a national recycling standard, allowing for more used plastic to be transformed into the new plastic that is the lifeblood of manufacturing.       

Also vital to this effort is preserving the tax reforms of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). That foundational law supported manufacturing-friendly policies such as a lower corporate tax rate and immediate expensing of investments. With the TCJA up for renewal this year, Congress should look to double down on those key pro-growth policies and restore the research and development tax credit. 

President Trump’s common-sense support of the plastics industry is a positive shift for all American industries that have been working hard to expand domestic manufacturing and boost local economies throughout the country. Through targeted rule changes and forward-looking tax policies, President Trump can revitalize America’s plastics industry for the better.  

David Williams is the president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.