As I write this in May, tariffs remain the topic we hear about most often from our PMMI membership. At press time, the U.S. is currently reviewing trade proposals. As trade deals are still being negotiated, it is unclear how packaging and processing machinery imports into the U.S. by PMMI members will be affected. Not surprisingly, with a hot-button issue, we hear a range of differing opinions from members, as the variety and volatility of the situation will impact members in distinctive ways.
Since expanding our membership to Canadian and Mexican companies, PMMI has celebrated its membership's diversity. We recognize that while we can’t solve the issue’s effect on each individual member, we can provide resources and connect members to each other to find the best approach for each company’s situation.
PMMI has always taken pride in serving as the convening authority of the packaging and processing industry. When situations like this arise that impact our industry and, most importantly, our members, we want to supply you with the right tools to help you navigate them. Since President Trump first began speaking of tariffs in the early days of his administration, our senior leadership began working around the clock to provide current and business-actionable intelligence. We immediately reached out to Shawn Jarosz, founder and chief trade strategist at TradeMoves LLC, who has been providing insights to PMMI’s Global Marketing team on tariffs and duties for years. With Jarosz’s assistance, we launched a two-pronged approach with a new, constantly updating Global Marketing Trends blog and a series of webinars that include input on how your peers are reacting to the instability.
For members looking for the most up-to-the-minute news on tariffs, the Global Marketing Trends Blog has grown into a trusted resource for not only the latest updates on tariffs but also trade regulations and economic trends impacting international business. In today’s rapidly evolving market, staying informed is critical to making strategic decisions. Sometimes updated multiple times a day, the blog delivers timely insights, expert analysis, and actionable information to help you navigate the current global challenges and opportunities.
Visit regularly to stay current and turn knowledge into your competitive advantage at www.pmmi.org/global-marketing/global-marketing-trends. We also highlight the latest blog weekly in the Conveyor, where there are notices of all other available PMMI resources.
On the webinar front, within days of the first proposed tariffs, PMMI’s Vice President of Market Development, Jorge Izquierdo, had already moderated our first PMMI Town Hall webinar with two PMMI members and Jarosz to discuss the potential impacts of the ever-evolving tariffs and how these members dealt with tariffs during the first Trump administration. We adjusted our Executive Leadership Conference schedule at the eleventh hour to provide the latest information possible from Jarosz with an ELC session. Finally, we held another town hall in mid-May with Jarosz and two additional PMMI members to offer updated insights into how evolving policies could impact your operations and provide real-world strategies to stay ahead of disruptions. All of these videos are available on demand at www.pmmi.org/global-marketing/webinars.
PMMI recognizes that no business likes uncertainty. I urge you to take advantage of these resources and continue to discuss with fellow PMMI members how they are adjusting to meet ever-changing expectations.
