The chemical industry plays an essential role in innovation, energy advancement and technological leadership, said American Chemistry Council President and CEO Chris Jahn during a policy event. He also emphasized the need for a supportive regulatory environment to ensure the US remains competitive, especially against China in the AI sector. "If we don't get chemical policy right, believe it or not, we are not going to win the AI race against China," said Jahn.

The American Chemistry Council, Olin and other companies and industry organizations have expressed support for a proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency to revert to a use-by-use determination of risk under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The current single, whole-chemical risk approach is inconsistent with federal law and undermines the preemption of state regulations for specific uses deemed safe, said industry groups. They also support the EPA's intent to avoid regulatory overlap by excluding exposures addressed by other laws.

The White House has announced that two key economic reports for October, on inflation and jobs, likely won't be released due to the six-week government shutdown. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says this will leave policymakers "flying blind," particularly the Federal Reserve. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has not indicated when it will address the backlog.

The Surface Transportation Board has set Nov. 20 as the new deadline for filings that were due during the federal government shutdown, which lasted a record 43 days. The board, operating with three members after the dismissal of Robert Primus, has asked that parties needing further modifications request extensions.

The chemical industry faced a challenging third quarter in 2025, with major companies such as BASF, Celanese and Evonik Industries reporting declines in sales and earnings. However, there are positive signs, including increased sales volumes in some segments and potential market rebalancing due to ethylene plant closures. LyondellBasell CEO Peter Vanacker notes strong polyethylene demand and expects capacity cuts in Europe and Asia to improve market conditions.

A global treaty on plastic waste will affect durable goods as well as single-use plastics, which is why it's important for the treaty to support a circular economy by including recycled-content targets and policies for chemical recycling, said Ralph Schneider of Covestro. "We are passionately working on chemical recycling solutions to impact that, but we also need the policy conditions in that area on the ground," said Schneider.

Moody's projects global GDP growth to slow to 2.5% to 2.6% in 2026 and 2027 from 2.9% in 2024, citing policy divergence and trade shifts. The US growth forecast for 2026 has been revised upward to 1.8%, while China's growth is expected to slow to 4.5%. India is expected to see 6.5% growth in 2026 and 2027.

Retention is becoming less of a leadership challenge as employees "job hug" amid economic uncertainty, but this presents an opportunity for leaders to focus on regeneration, writes leadership expert Julie Winkle Giulioni. This includes engaging in development conversations and encouraging safe experiments to keep employees engaged and thriving. "Investing in their growth sends a powerful signal of support while also allowing employees to take constructive action to prepare for an uncertain future," Winkle Giulioni writes.