### ⚖️ 1. **India Imposes Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Plastic Machinery**
- India formally imposed anti-dumping duties of **27%–63%** on plastic processing machinery (PPM) imported from mainland China and **0%–53%** on machinery from Taiwan. The affected products include injection molding machines with clamping forces of 40–1,500 tons.
- This follows an investigation initiated in March 2024 by India's Ministry of Commerce, prompted by petitions from domestic manufacturers. The move aims to protect local industry but heightens export pressure on Chinese manufacturers.
### 🚫 2. **Southeast Asia Tightens Plastic Waste Import Bans**
- **Malaysia** enforced the *2025 Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order* on July 1, **banning plastic waste imports from non-Basel Convention signatories** (e.g., U.S., Fiji, Haiti). Imports now require approval from Malaysia's SIRIM agency and are restricted to treaty-compliant countries like Japan, Australia, and ASEAN members.
- **Thailand** and **Indonesia** joined the trend: Thailand's full ban on plastic waste imports took effect January 2025, while Indonesia confirmed it will halt imports this year. These policies aim to curb pollution and boost local recycling industries.
### ⚓ 3. **UN Rejects Proposal to Classify Plastic Pellets as Hazardous**
- A joint proposal by Germany and the Netherlands to designate plastic pellets as "Class 9 Hazardous Material" under the *International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code* was **rejected by the UN Subcommittee** in early July. The decision cited insufficient evidence of environmental hazard criteria.
- Despite the rejection, the debate highlights ongoing concerns about pellet leakage during shipping (e.g., 184,000 tons leaked annually in Europe). The EU has advanced stricter domestic regulations requiring supply-chain leak prevention.
### ♻️ 4. **Ocean Plastic Recycling Gains Market Traction**
- China's Wenzhou Wobo Stationery exported **200,000 sets of rulers made from recycled ocean plastic** (e.g., PET bottles) to Europe. The products, certified under the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), leverage tariff exemptions in EU markets and sell at premium prices despite higher production costs.
- The company uses blockchain-tracked waste collected from fishermen and "Blue Ocean Stations," ensuring full traceability. Solar-powered manufacturing and plastic-free packaging further bolster its green credentials.
### 💰 5. **U.S. "One Big Beautiful Bill" Boosts Plastic Manufacturing**
- The newly signed U.S. legislation includes tax incentives applauded by the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), such as:
- Permanent R&D tax credits
- 100% immediate equipment depreciation
- Sustained 21% corporate tax rate.
- The bill aims to spur domestic manufacturing of sustainable plastics and automation tech but faces criticism for cutting environmental/social programs. Plastic manufacturers hail it as a catalyst for investment in circular economy initiatives.