Originally published by Printing Impressions. For more industry insights, subscribe to the "Today on PIWorld" newsletter.
The printing industry is currently operating within a climate of unparalleled volatility. For the past two years, rapid shifts in global trade policy, evolving environmental mandates, and a tightening labor market have transformed regulatory compliance from a back-office administrative task into a core strategic imperative. As the industry prepares to gather for the PRINTING United Expo in Las Vegas (Sept. 23–25), the message from the PRINTING United Alliance is clear: the cost of being disengaged from the legislative process is higher than ever.
The Triad of Legislative Challenges
According to Stephanie Buka, government affairs manager at the PRINTING United Alliance, the legislative landscape for print service providers (PSPs) is dominated by three overarching pillars: macroeconomic policy and tax reform; trade, tariffs, and supply chain uncertainty; and the ongoing battle for talent in a shifting workforce.
"I would be remiss if I didn’t include postal reform," Buka adds, noting that it remains a perennial priority for the Alliance. "However, the immediate pressure points for many of our members are coming from the intersection of global trade and domestic regulation."
Chronology of Trade and Regulatory Shifts
The landscape is moving faster than many businesses can track. A recent Supreme Court ruling invalidated several broad presidential tariffs previously enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Furthermore, tariffs established under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 expired on July 24, providing a momentary reprieve.
However, the relief is limited. Other authorities remain firmly in place, most notably Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. For the printing sector, the impact is tangible: imported finished lithographic printing plates are now hit with a 25% derivative tariff under Section 232, which sits on top of the 50% tariff already levied on certain raw aluminum inputs.
The supply chain faces further instability following the July 1, 2026, decision by the U.S. to allow the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to move into a 10-year rolling annual review process rather than renewing it for another 16-year term. While the agreement remains in force through 2036, this transition has created a new atmosphere of "review-induced" uncertainty for manufacturers relying on cross-border logistics.
Supporting Data and Strategic Responses
To combat this instability, the Alliance is actively championing the National Association of Manufacturers’ "U.S. Manufacturing Investment Accelerator Program." This initiative is designed to act as a "speed pass" for capital projects, aimed at unlocking long-term investment in the domestic manufacturing base to hedge against international supply chain shocks.
At the upcoming Expo, the Alliance will host a dedicated booth to provide a guided tour of its "Advocacy Center." This platform serves as a central hub for members to track key legislation, view lawmaker voting records, and access an interactive policy map.
The Industry Expert Roundtable
On Thursday, Sept. 24, the "Industry Expert Roundtable: Trends, Truths & Takeaways" (Noon–12:50 pm, Room N117) will feature six subject matter experts, including Chief Economist Andy Paparozzi and HR expert Adriane Harrison. The session, moderated by Printing Impressions Content Director Ashley Roberts, is designed to highlight where seemingly disparate issues—such as automation and workforce gaps, or sustainability and profitability—collide.
Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS): A Critical Focus
Beyond legislative policy, the industry is facing a renewed emphasis on workplace safety, particularly regarding the prevention of amputation injuries. Gary Jones, VP of environmental, health, and safety affairs at the Alliance, is spearheading a session titled "Preventing Amputations In Printing Operations" (Sept. 23, 3 pm, Room N115).
The Compliance Checklist
Jones highlights that CEOs, production managers, and safety officers must be hyper-vigilant regarding:
- Lockout/Tagout (LO/TO) Standards: Essential for preventing life-altering injuries during equipment maintenance.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): States are increasingly implementing EPR laws that now expand into business-to-business packaging.
- OSHA Reporting: Submission of injury and illness data through the Injury Tracking Application is a non-negotiable end-of-year obligation.
- Emerging Regulations: Ongoing monitoring of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and hazardous waste reporting is becoming mandatory across various jurisdictions.
Sustainability: Moving Beyond the Claims
Sustainability has graduated from a marketing buzzword to a regulatory and legal minefield. Sara Osorio, manager of EHS & Sustainability at the Alliance, emphasizes that "Greenwashing" is now a major liability. With state lawsuits and federal scrutiny rising, printers must be able to substantiate every sustainability claim with empirical data and verified documentation.
Practical Steps for Printers
Osorio advises that printers look for "incremental progress" rather than unattainable perfection. Key areas of focus at the Expo include:
- Material Integrity: Investigating low-VOC inks, recyclable coatings, and substrates with verifiable post-consumer recycled content.
- Operational Efficiency: Prioritizing equipment that reduces makeready time and production waste.
- Substantiation: When speaking to exhibitors, printers should ask: "What certifications, testing, or documentation supports this claim?"
"Our goal is to help members move beyond broad aspirations and toward informed, credible actions that support both environmental responsibility and business performance," Osorio notes. Her session, "Sustainability Compliance: What Printers Need to Know," on Sept. 23 at 1 pm, will serve as a foundational guide for navigating these new expectations.
Implications: The Power of the Industry Voice
As the industry approaches the Nov. 3 midterm elections, Buka urges printers to remain focused on several critical legislative pieces, including:
- The Stronger Workforce for America Act: A modernization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
- Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Reform: Specifically regarding the expiration of EPA fee-collection authority.
- The Great American AI Act (GAAIA): Currently in draft, this will dictate the future of artificial intelligence in the workplace.
- The SECURE Data Act: A proposed framework for federal consumer data privacy.
The barrier to entry for advocacy is surprisingly low. According to Buka, responding to an "Action Alert"—a pre-written, targeted message to a local representative—takes less than two minutes.
"The printing industry is strongest when its voice is heard," Buka concludes. "Whether you are a veteran in the industry or a new owner, the PRINTING United Expo is the most effective venue to bridge the gap between technical operations and the public policy issues that will define the next decade of success."
Summary of Key Expo Sessions
- Sept. 22: G7+ and Sustainability: An Unexpected Connection (G7+ Exchange).
- Sept. 23, 1 pm (Room N115): Sustainability Compliance: What Printers Need to Know.
- Sept. 23, 3 pm (Room N115): Preventing Amputations In Printing Operations.
- Sept. 24, 12 pm (Room N117): The Industry Expert Roundtable: Trends, Truths & Takeaways.
- Sept. 24, 2 pm (Room N115): Sustainability Foundations: Future-Proofing Your Print Business.
For those looking to take control of their business’s regulatory future, registration for the event is currently open. By engaging with the resources available at the Expo, printers can transform the uncertainty of the current legislative climate into a framework for long-term operational resilience.
To register for the PRINTING United Expo, visit printingunited.com.
About the Author
