Minnesota to delay PFAS reporting deadline

July 7, 2025  |  Industry News

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has announced it will extend the upcoming reporting deadline under the state’s PFAS-in-Products law. As currently written, the law requires manufacturers of intentionally added PFAS-containing products in the state to report detailed information to the…
Consumer confidence decreases in June

July 1, 2025  |  Industry News, News

The Conference Board released the June 2025 Consumer Confidence Index®, reporting that consumer confidence fell by 5.4 points in June to 93.0, down from 98.4 in May. The cutoff date for preliminary results was June 18, 2025. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers’ assessment of curren…
Vermont governor approves bill restricting PFAS in more consumer products

June 25, 2025  |  Industry News, News

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has signed into law H.238, which implements further restrictions on the use of PFAS in consumer products. Previously, legislation was adopted in the state under S.25 that restricted PFAS in personal care products, menstrual products, textiles, cookware, rugs and carpets, arti…
President Trump doubles tariffs on steel, aluminum imports

June 4, 2025  |  Industry News, News

President Donald Trump has increased tariffs on most steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%, effective June 4. The U.S. and the U.K. previously reached a trade deal May 8, agreeing to negotiate an alternative arrangement for the 25% Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum. According to Preside…
U.S. Court of International Law ruling about tariffs put on hold

June 2, 2025  |  Industry News, News

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal District granted the Donald Trump administration’s request to put a temporary hold on the New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade’s judgment May 29. The Court of International Trade Law’s May 28 judgement ruled in favor of six Amer…
Consumer confidence partially rebounds in May

May 29, 2025  |  Industry News, News

The Conference Board released the May 2025 Consumer Confidence Index®, reporting that consumer confidence increased by 12.3 points in May to 98.0, up from 85.7 in April. The cut-off date for preliminary results was May 19, 2025, and about half of the responses were collected after the May 12 announ…
PRIMON Automation and SYMTECH form partnership for U.S., Canadian markets

May 21, 2025  |  Industry News

PRIMON Automation, an automation system manufacturer for creel automation and textile manufacturing, and SYMTECH, a U.S.-based machinery and equipment distributor for the textile industry, formed a partnership April 1. SYMTECH will represent all existing PRIMON installations for support and service,…
EPA delays start of submission period for PFAS manufacturers and importers

May 12, 2025  |  Industry News, News

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an interim final rule to extend the dates of the reporting period for data submitted on the manufacture of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Previously, the submission period was to start July 11, 2025, and it has now be…
U.S. and U.K. announce trade deal, modifying tariffs

May 12, 2025  |  Industry News, News

The U.S. and the U.K. announced May 8 that the countries have made a trade deal. The deal states that the 10% reciprocal tariff imposed April 2 on U.K. imports is still in effect, but an alternate deal has been made for Section 232 tariffs for U.K. autos. Section 232 tariffs for U.K. steel and &hell…
U.S. and China agree to lower tariffs on imports for 90 days

May 12, 2025  |  Industry News, News

U.S. and Chinese officials announced that they have agreed to pause the recently imposed tariffs on imports from each country for 90 days, beginning May 14. The U.S. will lower its 145% tariff on Chinese imports to 30%, and China will decrease its tariff on American imports to 10%. Officials from bo…