How Chemistry Policy Shapes U.S. Competitiveness

Preston Beard
Director of Policy, Global Energy Institute, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Published

July 21, 2026

From semiconductors and pharmaceuticals to energy and advanced manufacturing, chemistry is at the heart of America’s economic future. Policymakers and leading industry voices gathered in Washington, DC, at the U.S. Chamber’s 2026 Chemistry Solutions Forum to examine the policies needed to keep U.S. companies innovative, competitive, and growing.

a man standing at a podium with a microphone — Preston Beard, Director of Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Global Energy Institute at the 2026 Chemistry Solutions Forum.

Chemistry Is the Foundation of American Competitiveness

Marty Durbin, Senior Vice President of Policy at the U.S. Chamber, underscored the importance of chemistry to nearly every sector of the American economy. "The race for AI leadership, advanced manufacturing, and energy security is, in many ways, a race for chemistry leadership,” said Durbin.

Why Regulatory Delays Are Costing U.S. Manufacturers

Chris Jahn, President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council, discussed the state of U.S. chemistry, the policy choices affecting competitiveness, and the road ahead for American manufacturers. Jahn emphasized that the United States cannot lead in advanced technologies without a modern, predictable, and workable regulatory framework.

a man in a suit holding a microphone — Chris Jahn, President & Chief Executive Officer, American Chemistry Council.

"EPA has 90 days to approve or disapprove a new chemical,” Jahn explained. “On average, it takes over a year. More than 90% of the reviews are behind schedule." Even with abundant domestic natural gas supplies, Jahn noted that building infrastructure is a challenge: "We just need to get [natural gas] to where it needs to go, and our permitting system doesn't have the ability to do that."

Geopolitical Risk

Supply-chain resilience was also front and center. Jan Kalfus of S&P Global examined the Strait of Hormuz and the chemical supply chain, highlighting how geopolitical risk, shipping chokepoints, and global market disruptions can affect manufacturers and downstream industries. The discussion underscored the need for supply chains that are diversified, secure, and supported by strong domestic production capacity and trusted trading relationships.

Unleashing American Business

Officials are addressing how the federal government can support America’s manufacturing base and global economic position. Steven Haines, Assistant Secretary of Commerce, said that policymakers are focused on "creating a domestic environment where supply chain resiliency and industrial resiliency is possible.”

a man in a suit and tie holding a microphone — Steven Haines, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce at the 2026 Chemistry Solutions Forum.

Small businesses also have a seat at the table. Nick Goldstein, Assistant Chief Counsel for Environment, SBA Office of Advocacy, described how small businesses can get trapped between competing agency standards: “So you're a small business, you've got an OSHA limit that you know and that you're familiar with, and now all of a sudden you're told, ‘Well, wait a minute, EPA has a different limit…’ and… they're stuck in the middle.” Goldstein also urged companies to "put me in touch with smaller suppliers" on regulatory impacts. "That's enormously helpful. That's the type of information that we need."

Driving Tech Innovation

The forum also zeroed in on chemistry's role in tech innovation. Nathan Blom, Vice President of Liquid Cooling at Chemours discussed the chemistry behind immersive cooling and its role in supporting high-performance computing, data centers, and other energy-intensive applications. “We can start talking about how we're going to be able to enable AI for the next 5, 10, 15 years as we look out into the future,” said Blom.

two men sitting in chairs with microphones — [L] Nathan Blom, Liquid Cooling Venture VP, Chemours.

In another conversation, Thomas Isberg, Vice President of Research and Development at Solstice Advanced Materials, highlighted the importance of moving promising innovations from discovery to deployment. Businesses need clear rules of the road and a policy environment that supports investment at scale.

Getting chemistry policy right is getting the economy right. A modern, science-based, and predictable regulatory framework unlocks American innovation, and determines where the technologies of the future are built, manufactured, and deployed. The U.S. Chamber will keep convening stakeholders, pushing for pragmatic reforms, and advocating for policies that give American businesses the certainty they need to compete and lead.