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Responsible Reflections Blog

ACD Calls on Congress to End GSP's Lengthy Hiatus
November 14, 2024
ACD Calls on Congress to End GSP's Lengthy Hiatus

The next few months present the perfect opportunity for the revival of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade program – and ACD is urging Congress to finally get the decision over the line.

Since the GSP program expired on December 31, 2020, some of the world’s poorest countries have been unable to benefit from advantaged tariff rates and access to the American market. GSP was first introduced in the Trade Act of 1974 and is the largest – and oldest – U.S. trade preference program.

By Brian Callahan
Trump 2.0: Trump's Return and Key Industry Impacts
November 7, 2024
Trump 2.0: Trump's Return and Key Industry Impacts

Tuesday night’s election was certainly a night to be remembered. Former President Trump, now being deemed the comeback kid, won his second term to the Oval Office in impressive fashion. As I write this blog, things have not totally settled out, but it is very likely that President-Elect Trump will secure 312 electoral votes and win the popular vote by nearly 5 million. In today’s world, this victory is a clear mandate from the American people.

By Eric R. Byer
Reel Chemistry: Lessons on Cybersecurity from the Big Screen
October 31, 2024
Reel Chemistry: Lessons on Cybersecurity from the Big Screen

The chemical industry often takes center stage in Hollywood, with directors sometimes getting it right—but more often providing a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding against the varied threats these portrayals bring to life. 

By Susannah Williams
Learning On the Go: ACD U Mobile App Brings Courses to Your Fingertips
October 24, 2024
Learning On the Go: ACD U Mobile App Brings Courses to Your Fingertips

Users of our dedicated training portal, ACD U, now have access to a powerful new companion app, giving them full access to their courses while on the move.

By Joseph Donadoni
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: How Advanced Tactics and Technologies Keep the Industry on High Alert
October 17, 2024
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: How Advanced Tactics and Technologies Keep the Industry on High Alert

In today’s digital era, tools like the internet, mobile devices, and social media platforms enable constant global communication. However, these technologies also present new opportunities for malicious actors to target businesses, steal sensitive information, and disrupt operations. As the world becomes more interconnected, the chemical distribution sector must remain vigilant against evolving cybersecurity threats and fraud attempts.

By Jennifer Gibson
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Miss ACD's Annual Meeting This November
October 10, 2024
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Miss ACD's Annual Meeting This November

Haven’t secured your spot for our Annual Meeting yet? Registration is now open, but don’t wait too long– spaces are filling up quickly for North America’s largest gathering of professionals in the chemical distribution industry!

By Tracey Pierce
Force Majeure or Force of Greed? The Port Strike and Its Cost to Americans
October 3, 2024
Force Majeure or Force of Greed? The Port Strike and Its Cost to Americans

At the stroke of midnight on October 1, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) began its strike, effectively shutting down the ports from Maine to Texas. This followed a disappointing negotiation process with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), the group representing the ports, as both sides were unable to agree on a new master contract. For months, the ILA and USMX exchanged statements back-and-forth accusing each other of refusing to negotiate in good faith and declining to meaningfully revise their respective offers. This remains unchanged even as we sit three days into a strike, with the American people and small businesses about to start feeling the pain.

By Nicholas Breslin
Crisis in the Making: Preparing for the Potential East Coast Strike
September 26, 2024
Crisis in the Making: Preparing for the Potential East Coast Strike

The supply chain has seemingly been in ‘crisis mode’ since early 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Since then, we have experienced a series of significant disruptions: multiple rail strikes (including one this past summer and another narrowly avoided two years ago), labor disputes at West Coast ports, a drought in the Panama Canal limiting movement of containers, the ongoing turmoil in the Red Sea due to the Houthis, and the list goes on.  

By Eric R. Byer
Harnessing the Sun: Solar Energy's Impact on Chemical Distribution
September 19, 2024
Harnessing the Sun: Solar Energy's Impact on Chemical Distribution

As leaders in the $27 billion chemical distribution industry, members of the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) not only uphold the highest standards of regulatory compliance and safety, they are also meeting the evolving demands of our supply chain partners through commonsense sustainability initiatives.

By Caroline Brooks
Remembering 9/11: The Critical Role of CFATS
September 12, 2024
Remembering 9/11: The Critical Role of CFATS

I write this blog today with a heavy heart and an immense amount of frustration. For the last 14 months, we have fought to re-establish a critical program governing security for our industry, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program, which was created in response to the devastating attacks on September 11, 2001, to protect our nation from similar threats.

By Eric R. Byer