Americas top stories: weekly summary

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the top stories from ICIS News from the week ended 9 May.

INSIGHT: Mexico’s automotive tariffs raise specter of recession, rest of LatAm more resilient
Mexico remains the potential largest victim of the change in US trade policy, but practically no country in the world would be spared from an impact, analysts said this week.

US Celanese to cut rates if demand falters further in increasingly ‘uncertain’ H2 – execs
Celanese will aim to weather what is becoming an increasingly “uncertain” second half of 2025 by reducing inventories and keeping firm cost controls, but also by reducing operating rates if demand is not there, the CEO at the US-based acetyls and engineered materials producer said on Tuesday.

Braskem-Idesa launches its ethane import terminal in Mexico
Braskem-Idesa (BI) officially launched the Terminal Quimica Puerto Mexico (TQPM) on Wednesday, according to a notice from the company.

US-UK announce trade deal to open up markets for chemicals, ethanol, agriculture, autos, steel and aluminium, aircraft
The US and UK announced the first trade deal since the US 2 April ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs which would open up UK market access for US chemicals, machinery, beef, ethanol and other agricultural products, government officials said.

Canada’s Pembina assures on US tariffs and Path2Zero delay
Pembina Pipeline does not expect material near-term impacts from the US tariffs or from the delay of Dow’s Path2Zero petrochemicals project in Alberta province, the top executives of the Canadian midstream energy company told analysts in an update on Friday.