Latest news with #Section301
The Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Reshaping Global Lubricant Supply Chains: Trump-Era Tariffs Driving Industry Pivot Toward Asia
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 17 July 2025 - With the global lubricants industry still adjusting to the lasting impact of U.S. trade policy enacted during the first presidential term of U.S. President Donald Trump, supply chains are undergoing dramatic shifts—and Asia is solidifying its role as the sector's global hub. While the U.S. tariffs primarily targeted a broad range of Chinese industrial chemicals under Section 301, some specialty additives used in lubricant formulations were affected. In response, U.S. manufacturers have faced increased costs, sourcing uncertainties, and production delays, prompting a re-evaluation of procurement strategies. These disruptions have had ripple effects across the automotive, industrial, and specialty lubricant markets worldwide. Strategic Realignment: From the West to the East As regulatory complexity and economic uncertainty mount in the U.S. and European markets, many lubricant producers, OEMs, and blenders are redirecting investment and operational focus toward Asia. The region already accounts for the world's largest share of lubricant demand and continues to post some of the fastest growth, driven by expanding industrialization and vehicle ownership. Asia's strong manufacturing base, growing consumer markets, and expanding infrastructure for lubricant production make it an attractive destination for global expansion. Companies are deepening their presence in countries such as China, India, Malaysia, and Singapore—tapping into local production advantages, aligning with regional OEMs, and building supply chain resilience. The Asian Lubricant Exhibition 2025: Spotlighting the Industry's Transformation The challenges—and potential advantages—of this strategic global shift will take center stage at the Asian Lubricant Exhibition 2025, held September 9–11 at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hall 403, Level 4. As Asia's only dedicated trade show focused on the lubricants value chain, the event provides a timely platform for addressing trade disruptions, supply chain realignment, and emerging opportunities across the region. The exhibition and exhibitor presentations are open to the public, free of charge. Pre-registration is highly encouraged to be eligible for door prizes and exclusive onsite offers. Co-hosted by the Asian Lubricants Industry Association (ALIA) and F&L Asia Ltd., the three-day event brings together global players navigating today's volatile landscape—from base oil producers and additive specialists to blending, packaging, quality and compliance services, logistics, and end-user service providers. With over 60% of booths already sold, and exhibitors including ExxonMobil, Chevron Oronite, CPC Corporation, Kangtai Lubricant Additives, Kemipex, Patech, Huntsman, Master Fluid, Axel Christiernsson, Metal-Chemie, ML Lubrication, Songwon, Vanderbilt, BRB, Hyrax Oil, and Universal Analytical, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to showcase solutions that address the current challenges of global trade volatility—especially those tied to tariffs and regulatory pressures. Highlights Include: Exhibitor Presentations spotlighting supply chain innovations Training and networking events such as the Base Oil 101 Training Course and the ALIA Anniversary Dinner Executive Briefings on market forecasts and trade realignment The ALIA Sustainability Session on future-ready lubricant strategies J oin the Conversation on Supply Chain Transformation Whether you're a supplier, OEM, blender, technology provider, or logistics expert, this is the moment to engage with Asia's lubricant leaders and align your strategy with where the market is headed. For booth bookings, program details, and registration, visit: Let's shape the future of lubricants—together in Singapore.
Arabian Post
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Arabian Post
Reshaping Global Lubricant Supply Chains: Trump-Era Tariffs Driving Industry Pivot Toward Asia
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 July 2025 – With the global lubricants industry still adjusting to the lasting impact of U.S. trade policy enacted during the first presidential term of U.S. President Donald Trump, supply chains are undergoing dramatic shifts—and Asia is solidifying its role as the sector's global hub. ADVERTISEMENT While the U.S. tariffs primarily targeted a broad range of Chinese industrial chemicals under Section 301, some specialty additives used in lubricant formulations were affected. In response, U.S. manufacturers have faced increased costs, sourcing uncertainties, and production delays, prompting a re-evaluation of procurement strategies. These disruptions have had ripple effects across the automotive, industrial, and specialty lubricant markets worldwide. Strategic Realignment: From the West to the East As regulatory complexity and economic uncertainty mount in the U.S. and European markets, many lubricant producers, OEMs, and blenders are redirecting investment and operational focus toward Asia. The region already accounts for the world's largest share of lubricant demand and continues to post some of the fastest growth, driven by expanding industrialization and vehicle ownership. Asia's strong manufacturing base, growing consumer markets, and expanding infrastructure for lubricant production make it an attractive destination for global expansion. Companies are deepening their presence in countries such as China, India, Malaysia, and Singapore—tapping into local production advantages, aligning with regional OEMs, and building supply chain resilience. The Asian Lubricant Exhibition 2025: Spotlighting the Industry's Transformation The challenges—and potential advantages—of this strategic global shift will take center stage at the Asian Lubricant Exhibition 2025, held September 9–11 at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hall 403, Level 4. As Asia's only dedicated trade show focused on the lubricants value chain, the event provides a timely platform for addressing trade disruptions, supply chain realignment, and emerging opportunities across the region. The exhibition and exhibitor presentations are open to the public, free of charge. Pre-registration is highly encouraged to be eligible for door prizes and exclusive onsite offers. Co-hosted by the Asian Lubricants Industry Association (ALIA) and F&L Asia Ltd., the three-day event brings together global players navigating today's volatile landscape—from base oil producers and additive specialists to blending, packaging, quality and compliance services, logistics, and end-user service providers. With over 60% of booths already sold, and exhibitors including ExxonMobil, Chevron Oronite, CPC Corporation, Kangtai Lubricant Additives, Kemipex, Patech, Huntsman, Master Fluid, Axel Christiernsson, Metal-Chemie, ML Lubrication, Songwon, Vanderbilt, BRB, Hyrax Oil, and Universal Analytical, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to showcase solutions that address the current challenges of global trade volatility—especially those tied to tariffs and regulatory pressures. Highlights Include: Exhibitor Presentations spotlighting supply chain innovations Training and networking events such as the Base Oil 101 Training Course and the ALIA Anniversary Dinner Executive Briefings on market forecasts and trade realignment The ALIA Sustainability Session on future-ready lubricant strategies See also Octa's oil outlook: Middle East tensions threaten global supply Join the Conversation on Supply Chain Transformation Whether you're a supplier, OEM, blender, technology provider, or logistics expert, this is the moment to engage with Asia's lubricant leaders and align your strategy with where the market is headed. For booth bookings, program details, and registration, visit: Let's shape the future of lubricants—together in Singapore. Hashtag: #AsianLubricantExhibition2025 #ALE2025 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
Trump's new political tariff pageantry hits Brazil — and American consumers
President Trump once claimed tariffs were about restoring reciprocity. Now he uses them like balloons in a post-truth populist pageant, slapping a 50 percent levy on Brazil not because of of trade imbalances, but due to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's legal troubles. Trump's latest tariff gesture is political grievance diplomacy, not economic policy. If Trump believes Brazil's prosecution of Bolsonaro for alleged involvement in a failed coup is illegitimate, he should advocate or impose sanctions. Instead, he imposes a tariff that hurts U.S. consumers and exporters, even though the U.S. ran a $7.4 billion trade surplus with Brazil in 2024. In his public letter, Trump lashed out at Brazil's government for prosecuting Bolsonaro, calling the charges an 'international disgrace.' He declared his tariff a protest against Brazil's alleged 'attacks on free elections' — by which he meant the regulation of American tech platforms that hosted far-right content during Brazil's election crisis. It is a growing challenge to apply 'economic' to these post-truth 'reciprocal' tariffs. But it's becoming scarily easy to recognize Trump's need for emotional spectacle, calibrated for a base that responds to punitive gestures, not policy results. This represents a complete departure from how America has traditionally used tariffs. The Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930 was at least coherent in its wrongheadedness. It aimed to protect American industry. It failed spectacularly, deepening the economic crisis and provoking global retaliation, but it was still economic policy. Trump's Brazil tariff serves no economic purpose whatsoever. The U.S. exported nearly $50 billion in goods to Brazil last year — far more than it imported from Brazil. Yet the price of this performative tariff will be paid by American consumers and exporters, not by Bolsonaro or Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Brazil is America's 16th largest trading partner. Disruptions will ripple through agriculture, aerospace, energy and manufacturing. America is the largest consumer of Brazilian goods. But in the MAGA carnival, the audience cheers loudest when the strongman throws a punch — even when it lands on their own wallet. Bolsonaro, now banned from running for office until 2030, told the Wall Street Journal he was counting on Trump to use American economic leverage to punish Brazil and help stage his return. That fantasy is now partially fulfilled. Trump has taken up Bolsonaro's cause by endangering a U.S. trade surplus. Meanwhile, Trump's administration prepares a Section 301 investigation to justify additional tariffs on Brazil, citing 'unfair' practices in a country where American exporters are thriving. The outcome is predetermined: more chaos, more costs, more applause from those conditioned to see mere belligerence as strength. Trump reframes personal grievance as national interest, then weaponizes policy tools for symbolic retaliation. The fact that the 50 percent tariff will likely raise prices, provoke retaliation, and destabilize a beneficial trade relationship does not register as a problem. It registers instead as a demonstration of will, which is the very heart of populism. There was a time when American trade policy served actual economic purposes. Even President Richard Nixon's misguided wage and price controls in 1971 were at least attempts to address genuine economic problems. What we have now is a tariff imposed in defense of an alleged coup sympathizer, levied against a country with which we have a healthy surplus, paid for by Americans who may not realize the costs until they appear in grocery aisles. When post-truth populist pageantry becomes policy, everyone pays the price, whether or not they care to watch and enjoy the spectacle. Stephen Schneider studied philosophy and earned an M.D. before turning to finance and investing. He is particularly interested in how political culture shapes the U.S. financial system.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
'50% tariff & probe!': Trump's big trade strike triggers Brazil meltdown; Lula fumes at US President
Tensions escalate between the US and Brazil as Donald Trump launched a Section 301 trade investigation into Brazil's alleged unfair practices, just days after announcing a massive 50% tariff on Brazilian goods. The probe targets a wide range of issues, including digital censorship, preferential tariffs, ethanol barriers, and deforestation enforcement failures. Show more Show less
Fibre2Fashion
3 days ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
USTR starts Section 301 probe into Brazil's 'unfair' trading practices
The office of the US trade representative (USTR) yesterday initiated an investigation to determine whether Brazil's acts, policies and practices related to digital trade and electronic payment services; 'unfair', preferential tariffs; anti-corruption 'interference'; intellectual property protection; ethanol market access; and 'illegal' deforestation are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict US commerce. The Section 301 investigation was launched into Brazil's 'attacks on American social media companies as well as other unfair trading practices that harm American companies, workers, farmers, and technology innovators,' said USTR Jamieson Greer. The USTR has begun a probe to find out whether Brazil's policies and practices in digital trade and e-payment; 'unfair', preferential tariffs; anti-corruption 'interference'; IP protection; ethanol market access; and 'illegal' deforestation burden or restrict US commerce. “Brazil's tariff and non-tariff barriers merit a thorough investigation, and potentially, responsive action,†said USTR Jamieson Greer. 'USTR has detailed Brazil's unfair trade practices that restrict the ability of US exporters to access its market for decades in the annual National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report. After consulting with other government agencies, cleared advisers, and Congress, I have determined that Brazil's tariff and non-tariff barriers merit a thorough investigation, and potentially, responsive action," he was quoted as saying in an official release. Brazil may undermine the competitiveness of US companies engaged in digital trade and electronic payment services, for example, by retaliating against them for failing to censor political speech or restricting their ability to provide services in the country, the release noted. Brazil accords lower, preferential tariff rates to the exports of certain globally competitive trade partners, thereby disadvantaging US exports, it noted. Brazil's failure to enforce anti-corruption and transparency measures raises concerns in relation to norms relating to fighting bribery and corruption, it said. Brazil apparently denies adequate and effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, harming American workers whose livelihoods are tied to America's innovation- and creativity-driven sectors, the release added. Brazil has walked away from its willingness to provide virtually duty-free treatment for US ethanol, and instead, now applies a substantially higher tariff on US ethanol exports. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
