CEO insights on USA250: The case for U.S. competitiveness starts with chemistry
USA250: The case for U.S. competitiveness starts with chemistry
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the path to stronger global competitiveness begins with chemistry. Leading a global chemical company and serving as ACC (American Chemistry Council) Board Chair has reinforced a central point: if the country wants to compete and win globally, it must start with a strong chemical industry.
Chemistry sits upstream of nearly every manufacturing value chain. From semiconductors and AI to healthcare, energy and national defense, chemistry enables the materials and technologies that power modern economies. When laws and regulations do not support a strong chemical industry, the American economy feels the impact far beyond our industry.
Positioning U.S. chemistry for the next cycle of growth
The U.S. begins from a position of strength. We have advantaged energy, world-class talent and a long track record of innovation. Our assets are efficient, our operators are highly capable and our industry has demonstrated resilience, even in a period defined by dynamic global supply.
The question is: Will American policymakers act to implement policies that ensure future investment flows into the U.S.?
I see four key areas where legislators can act to create a more competitive future for American manufacturing.
One: Strengthen science-based regulation to support innovation.
Our industry plans in 30-, 40- and 50-year investment cycles, yet policy frameworks can shift every few years. That disconnect can hinder long-term investment.
To compete globally, policy must be well-articulated, predictable and durable over time. Complexity is not the challenge; uncertainty is what constrains investment.
This need for certainty is particularly evident in the implementation of TSCA. Too often, timelines remain unclear and outcomes are difficult to anticipate, slowing decision-making and limiting the pace of innovation.
If we want to lead in advanced materials and next-generation chemistry, we need to ensure that innovation can move at pace from lab to commercial scale. That objective requires a regulatory system that is grounded in science, transparent in execution and efficient in practice.
Two: Modernize permitting to accelerate U.S. manufacturing investment.
Permitting is equally critical. Chemistry enables reshoring, but reshoring depends on the infrastructure required to build, expand and modernize assets in a timely way. Without efficient permitting, broader manufacturing ambitions become more difficult to realize.
At the same time, we need a more coordinated dialogue across agencies, levels of government and the realities of industrial investment. Bringing policymakers, regulators and industry together is not optional. It is necessary to develop permitting solutions that are both practical and effective.
Three: Keep trade free, fair and open to support U.S. competitiveness.
Competitiveness also has a global dimension. The U.S. chemical industry is a major exporter and consistently runs a trade surplus. That position should not be taken for granted.
Open markets are essential, but they must operate under fair and enforceable rules.
Dynamic supply, uneven regulatory systems and shifting geopolitical dynamics are changing the competitive landscape. A free and fair trading system helps ensure U.S. producers can compete on a level playing field, while supporting domestic production, sustaining high-value jobs and reinforcing supply chain resilience.
Four: Invest in the high-value jobs that strengthen U.S. competitiveness.
It is also important to recognize the broader workforce impact of our industry. In the United States, chemistry supports hundreds of thousands of skilled, high-wage jobs. Sustaining that base requires continued investment in workforce development, STEM education and partnerships that help prepare the next generation for careers in advanced manufacturing.
Looking ahead, chemistry’s role in the U.S. economy will only grow more important. Whether enabling breakthroughs in AI, advancing new energy solutions or strengthening critical supply chains, chemistry will remain central to America’s industrial competitiveness.
Aligning policy, investment and innovation
At this USA250 milestone, the opportunity is clear: not only to recognize what the country has built, but to strengthen the industrial foundation that will define its next chapter. We have the fundamentals in place. We have the capability. We have the demand.
If we can ensure predictable, science-based regulation, modern and efficient permitting, and a commitment to fair trade, we will create the conditions for continued investment and innovation.
Chemistry will continue to lead, and when chemistry leads, the United States is positioned to compete and thrive.
