US imposes full tariffs on PET and rPET imports

The US announced that imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and recycled PET (rPET) will now be subject to full tariffs, effective September 8, 2025.

This trade policy shift applies to goods classified under HS codes 3907.61.00 and 3907.69.00, encompassing both virgin and recycled forms of PET. The new tariffs remove previous exemptions that allowed duty-free access for these materials, according to a report from Rubber World Magazine.

Notably, rPET does not have a separate classification and shares the same HS code as its virgin counterpart. A document released by the White House on September 5 indicated that HS codes 3907.61.00 and 3907.69.00 have been added to Annexure 1. This change means that all shipments entering the U.S. or withdrawn from warehouses after 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 8 will be subject to the new tariffs, as explained by S&P Global.

The announcement has taken many PET and rPET traders by surprise, as they had anticipated that these materials would remain classified under Annexure II, which did not impose tariffs. This change is expected to lead to a decline in demand for rPET from Asian regions that previously benefited from tariff exemptions.

Industry analysts predict that the new tariffs will significantly reshape global PET trade flows. US buyers may increasingly seek domestic sources or turn to countries with preferential trade agreements, while Asian exporters will likely look for alternative markets, reports Rubber World Magazine.