May 24, 2026 to May 30, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning most types of manufacturing activities (except agricultural, automotive, aerospace, food, and pharmaceutical), e.g. textile and apparel, chemical, electronics, wood and paper, metals, plastics and rubber, packaging, and machining. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track the upstream and downstream forces affecting Manufacturing? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Mining and Oil & Gas. Also consider subscribing to our Manufacturing - Ottawa edition covering critical GR news north of the border.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House E&C Environment Panel Reviews Clean Air Act Mobile Source Updates - June 3: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment holds a hearing June 3, 2:00pm ET, on legislation to modernize the Clean Air Act's mobile source requirements (Rayburn 2123).
• House Science, Space, & Technology Panel Examines Environmental Protection Through Technology - June 4: The House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Environment will hold a hearing June 4, 10:00am ET, on advancing environmental protection via science and technology (Rayburn 2318).

Federal Government News

EPA Revises HFC Rule: Adjusts Deadlines, Raises Interim GWP Limits for Multiple Cooling Sectors

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule revising restrictions under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act’s Technology Transitions provisions. Effective July 27, EPA is amending compliance dates and increasing interim global warming potential (GWP) limits for supermarket systems, cold storage warehouses, and retail food remote condensing units—with lower GWP thresholds taking effect January 1, 2032. Semiconductor manufacturing chillers get an extension to 2030 in response to industry petitions. The rule also removes installation deadlines for residential and commercial HVAC equipment manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025, to avoid stranding inventory, citing recent supply chain disruption. EPA estimates the regulatory changes will generate over $650 million in cost savings (PV at 7%) and identifies anticipated indirect effects including changes in HFC demand given the statutory phasedown. Additional amendments target refrigerated centrifuges and laboratory shakers, and the rule specifies its one-year effective date requirement does not apply to relief actions.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Manufacturing USA Institute Competition: Technology Transition Roadmaps Announced

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to launch a competition targeted at Manufacturing USA Institutes to develop actionable technology transition roadmaps for advanced manufacturing. The competition seeks to enable institutes to identify and address scale-up challenges moving innovations from pilot to commercial scale, with an emphasis on aligning industry, market drivers, and infrastructure need. NIST will offer up to $10 million in total funding, capping awards at $550,000 over 18 months, with no required cost-share. Eligibility is limited to existing Manufacturing USA Institutes, and the full announcement will be posted later this summer on Grants.gov and the NIST website.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

President Trump Highlights Skilled Trades Policies, Expands Federal Workforce Initiatives

A White House release details the impacts of the administration’s workforce and reshoring policies, citing a reported jump to 60% of Gen Z planning to enter trades and wages for skilled roles now matching or exceeding many four-year degrees. Federal actions include the Workforce Pell Grant pilot, $229 million in new apprenticeship grants, elimination of overtime taxation, and the requirement that workforce development benefits flow only to American workers. Large employers are also participating, with support for new apprenticeship programs. The administration attributes increased demand for electricians, HVAC, and construction workers to both workforce policy changes and sectoral reshoring via tariffs and supply chain localization.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Critical Position Pay Authority Approved for National Security Investment Workforce

On May 29, President Trump approved the use of critical position pay authority for up to 400 positions supporting national security investment efforts. The Office of Personnel Management, with OMB, may authorize pay up to $400,000 for roles in investment, engineering, finance, and law, specifically to recruit top talent into programs supporting critical mineral supply chains, advanced materials, and strategic domestic production. The memorandum notes OPM will ensure this authority is applied only as necessary and in alignment with legal and budgetary restrictions, with the objective of supporting industrial and supply chain resilience priorities set by the administration.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

EPA Denies Innovative Product Exemptions for Hairspray Producers Under VOC Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency issued notification of two final denials for innovative product exemption requests from Henkel Corporation and PLZ Corporation, both seeking to exceed the 80% volatile organic compound (VOC) content limit for hairsprays under the Consumer Products Rule. EPA determined the documentation submitted did not meet the criteria for exemption, with the final agency action subject to judicial review through July 27, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Rio Tinto commissions $1.5 billion low-carbon smelter expansion in Quebec: Rio Tinto has launched new production at its Saguenay smelter focused on lower-carbon aluminum outputs.
• SMX: ‘Made in America’ Now Requires a New Kind of Proof: Companies face new requirements to certify the American origin of manufactured products in light of evolving trade and supply chain scrutiny.
• SMX and The Age of Parity: Why Recycled Plastic Is Moving From Green Promise to Economic Necessity: Economic drivers are increasing demand for recycled plastics, with cost parity approaching traditional virgin materials.
• Exclusive | Trump Administration Wants Autos Under USMCA to Be at Least 50% Made in America: White House officials push for stricter domestic content thresholds on autos under the USMCA trade agreement.
• The War-Driven Supply Shock Already Roiling Manufacturing in Asia: Ongoing conflict-induced disruptions expose vulnerabilities in Asian manufacturing, especially in petrochemical supply chains.

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