The US Trade Representative's office has opened a new tariff investigation into China's compliance with the 2020 "Phase One" trade deal, citing concerns that China has not met its commitments regarding intellectual property, technology transfer, agriculture and other key areas. The investigation, initiated under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, may give the Trump administration new grounds to impose tariffs on Chinese imports and will include opportunities for public comment and hearings.

The American Chemistry Council released the following statement on the announced Section 301 investigation on the implementation of the "Phase One Agreement" with China. This quote may be attributed to Chris Jahn, ACC's President and CEO.

ACC welcomes USTR's announcement of Section 301 investigation into implementation of the "Phase One Agreement" between the United States and China negotiated by the first Trump Administration. The U.S. chemical industry values this chance to contribute ideas to address unfair trading practices, and hope this is an opportunity for the United States and China to work together on fair implementation of the Agreement that promotes real cooperation and a more level playing field for our producers and workers." Read more.

The US and China have reached a preliminary consensus on a number of topics, potentially setting the stage for President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to finalize a deal. The US' earlier threat to impose a 100% tariff on imports from China "is effectively off the table," according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Separately, the US has also announced trade deals with Cambodia and Malaysia.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva indicated that teams from the US and Brazil will meet to discuss trade issues. "We agreed that our teams will meet immediately to advance the search for solutions to the tariffs and sanctions against Brazilian authorities," Lula said. Separately, President Donald Trump said he would place an additional 10% tariff on Canada.

ExxonMobil has filed a lawsuit against California over two climate disclosure laws set to take effect next year. The company argues the laws infringe on its free speech rights by forcing it to disclose greenhouse gas emissions in a way that unfairly blames large companies for climate change. One law requires companies to disclose a wide range of emissions, while the other requires companies to disclose the financial risks posed by climate change.

Trinseo and Chevron Phillips Chemical may delay the sale of their Americas Styrenics joint venture because of market volatility. Trinseo has been working to divest its styrenics business since 2021 amid challenging market conditions, including low utilization rates and declining margins driven by increased Chinese capacity and weak demand for styrene derivatives.

Canada is expediting the Port of Montreal's expansion amid a trade war with the US to bolster overseas trade. The $1.15 billion new container terminal aims to increase the port's capacity by over 50%, and is part of a national strategy to diversify trade. However, trade growth is uncertain due to recent declines in container handling and challenges such as labor strikes and river limitations.

Carriers have tightened capacity on transpacific routes by enacting significant blank sailings, effectively reducing available space and supporting higher freight rates even as overall demand remains soft. Analysts expect this capacity constraint to persist through late October, with additional general rate increases scheduled for early and mid-November aimed at keeping rates elevated before any potential market softening.

Make sure your body language agrees with your words, writes Andy Harrington, the founder of The Professional Speakers Academy, who offers examples of when your body language contradicts your message, such as crossing your arms when asking for feedback. "When your physical cues align with the values you espouse, belief takes root," Harrington writes.

Consumer prices rose 0.3% in September, decelerating slightly from a 0.4% increase in August. Gasoline prices, which jumped 4.1%, were the primary driver of the overall monthly rise, causing the energy index to leap 1.5%. Food prices rose 0.2%. Excluding food and energy, core prices gained 0.2%, on top of a 0.3% rise in both July and August. September core prices were propelled by shelter, airfare, recreation, home goods, and apparel. Read more.