COVID-19 & the Economy

How to Help

If your company is interested in helping the effort to combat the spread of COVID-19:

Please visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resource page HERE.

Additionally, please find more information, updates and resources from the CDC, FEMA, and the Federal Government HERE.

Read the latest updates from our Chief Economist, Perc Pineda, PhD on COVID-19 and its impact on the plastics industry.

1.) COVID-19, the Fed funds rate, and the U.S. Plastics Industry

2.) Coronavirus and the U.S. Plastics Industry Supply Chain

3.) Plastics Market Watch: Plastics' Contributions to Healthcare: The Plastics Market Watch on Healthcare reports how plastics improve the quality of healthcare for patients, save and extend lives, combat infections, diseases, and illnesses, save money, contribute to the design and function of medical devices, and help protect and deliver pharmaceuticals into the body.

Learn more about Industry Data here.

COVID-19 Temporary Trade Measures 

The coronavirus pandemic has caused global economic disruptions in trade. According to the International Trade Center, a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations countries imposed temporary trade measures restricting exports and liberalizing imports of critical medical equipment and supplies. These products use plastics materials and plastics. Some of the top sources of U.S. plastics imports such as China and Vietnam have imposed temporary trade restrictions.  

Eighty-eight countries have imposed export restrictions/bans affecting products which include personal protection equipment—masks, gloves—pharmaceutical products, hand sanitizers, foods and other products. For instance, South Korea restricts exports of masks effective April 14, 2020. At the same time, it has waived tariffs on the import of masks from April 14, 2020 to June 30, 2020. Download the full report here.

The full list of trade measures including trade partners involved and the start and end dates can be found here under COVID-19 and the Economy.  

For questions, please contact:
PPineda@plasticsindustry.org 
Perc Pineda, PhD 
Chief Economist 

;