Editor’s note: This story is part of a series highlighting takeaways from the Supply Chain Outlook event hosted by Packaging Dive, Supply Chain Dive, Manufacturing Dive and Trucking Dive. Register here to watch a replay of the event. Markets for virgin and recycled plastic and metal commodities are reflecting the effects from ongoing tariff pressures and the Iran conflict. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is up in the air, adding to uncertainty, but a renegotiation could create opportunities for stronger trade relationships. Experts from the plastics and metals industries offered their views on these major global influences during a commodity market session at the “Supply Chain Outlook: Trends and Risks to Watch in 2026” virtual event on Wednesday. Here are some key takeaways from the event. Canmakers face pressure from Section 232 tariffs a year later Section 232 aluminum and steel tariffs, which have been in place since 2018, increased from 25% to 50% in 2025. That has caused “unavoidable cost increases” for U.S. can manufacturers since then, said Scott Breen, president of the Can Manufacturers Institute. Though aluminum beverage cans are mainly made of recycled content, they still need some primary aluminum, which is mostly imported from Canada. With higher tariffs, some Canadian producers are shifting their sales to other markets like Europe, Breen said. Because of that, U.S. producers of semi-fabricated products like can sheet had to source more aluminum from elsewhere, including states in the Persian Gulf region. In 2025, countries in that Gulf region made up about 21% of primary aluminum imports, and 13% being semi-fabricated imports. “That’s up significantly from 2024, basically at or near record levels,” he said, citing data from the Aluminum Association. Tariffs are affecting steel prices for food cans as well, he said. The U.S. imports about 80% of tinplate steel used