MT Magazine May/June 2025

MANUFACTURING MATTERS

THE EMERGING MARKETS ISSUE

10

ADVOCACY

EPA Announces Regulation Rollback President Donald Trump’s Day One executive order to roll back most Biden-era regulations took a significant step forward with an announcement from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin. On March 12, Zeldin launched a major deregulation initiative, hailed by the Trump administration as the “biggest deregulation action in U.S. history” – a comprehensive package of 31 measures aimed at unleashing American energy, lowering living costs, revitalizing the auto industry, and restoring power to the states. The deregulatory actions will address a range of regulations impacting water, air, and climate rules for power plants, oil and gas companies, vehicle emissions, and manufacturing and industrial facilities. This move represents the latest push in the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to reduce the federal government’s influence over energy and environmental policy, underscoring its commitment to reshaping the regulatory landscape with an emphasis on less government intervention.

INTERNATIONAL

Southeast Asia Emerges In manufacturing, “emerging” can mean a new technology, an evolving industry sector, or a rising geographic region. Combine all three, and you get one word: opportunity. Nowhere is this more evident than in Southeast Asia (SEA), which is rapidly developing its manufacturing capabilities to meet increasing demand as global supply chains shift. To illustrate this, the region’s metal cutting industry, which is grappling with a shortage of skilled labor, is turning to automation, advanced machinery, precision tooling, and high-performance accessories to produce more complex, higher-value components. Among the countries presenting strong potential in SEA, Vietnam has the fastest-growing economy, with GDP growth forecasted at 7%-8% in 2025. Last year alone, Vietnam saw over $25 billion in foreign direct investment, with major commitments in aerospace, automotive, electronics, and semiconductors. American companies like Apple, Boeing, Ford, GE, Intel, and Nike have already established a presence. To support U.S. manufacturers and AMT members in tapping into this vibrant market and its opportunities, AMT has opened a new office in Thailand. Learn more at AMTonline.org/international-access.