Following this week’s announcement of "reciprocal tariffs" by US President Donald Trump, the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) said on Friday it is "observing with great concern the current development with regards to tariff impositions and countermeasures across the globe. This escalating pattern risks triggering a harmful cycle of trade restrictions harmful far-reaching consequences for global commerce and economic stability."
Earlier this week, the US Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) warned that the new tariffs on imports would "significantly disrupt US manufacturing and recycling operations that depend on recycled-material inputs".
The BIR, which represents national recycling industry associations and individual companies from around the globe, underlines that it has always advocated for free and fair trade as the foundation of a healthy global economy and a driver of productive commercial exchanges between nations. "Trade barriers not only distort markets but also threaten economic growth and the efficient allocation of resources worldwide", the BIR cautioned.
Pointing to its position paper on trade issued last autumn, the organisation highlights the "significant risks associated with protectionist measures" and urges governments to refrain from policies that could hinder global trade flows. "At a time when international cooperation is more crucial than ever, BIR calls on policymakers to uphold open markets, ensuring that industries reliant on cross-border trade - such as recycling - can continue to contribute to a more sustainable and efficient global economy."
The BIR added that it will closely monitor the impact of current developments on international recycling markets and national economies together with its national member associations.
