Page 81 - Plastics News December 2019

iNtErNAtioNAL NEws

New Zealand plans initiatives to US, China to suspend 15 Dec

eliminate single-use plastics tariffs, US to cut other duties

he Government of New Zealand has decided to he US and China have agreed on to suspend a new
Timplement a number of initiatives to eliminate single- Tround of tariffs that they had planned to impose
use plastics and reduce waste. The decision follows a on each other on 15 December. In addition, the US
successful implementation of the single-use plastic bag ban will lower tariffs to 7.5% from 15% on $120bn worth of
earlier this year. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern goods, according to both President Donald Trump and
said: “Our ban on the US Trade Representative (USTR). The US imposed
plastic bags has those tariffs on 1 September as part 1 in the fourth
already made round of tariffs. Part 2 of the fourth round of tariffs
a difference as were to be imposed on 15 December, and they are
we confront our now off the table. China had retaliated with its own
enormous long- fourth round of tariffs, also divided into two parts.
term challenge Under it, China added new tariffs on some products and
to tackle plastic increased existing ones on other products. It is unclear
waste. “Many if China had agreed to lower or roll back part 1 of its
New Zealanders, fourth round of tariffs. Nonetheless, the suspension
including many of the planned 15 December tariffs brings some relief
children, write to the US and Chinese manufacturing and chemical
to me about sectors, which have been weighed down by the trade
plastic, concerned with its proliferation over the past war. US chemical exports of $136.7bn in 2019 are set
decade and the mounting waste ending up in our oceans. to decline 2.5% from 2018, before ticking up 1.1% to
“I share this concern for our natural environment, $138.2m in 2020, according to the American Chemistry
one that sustains our tourism, trade and our national Council (ACC). Imports are also set to decline by 3.9%
identity.” The country’s primary goal will be to eliminate to $104.8bn in 2019 before rising 1.2% to $138.2bn in
single-use packaging and beverage containers made 2020, according to the ACC.“The export side has been
from hard-to-recycle polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene, hit significantly with China’s retaliatory tariffs and the
including polystyrene meat trays, cups and takeaway food slowdown in global manufacturing,” said Martha Moore,
containers. Collaboration with the local government and
industry will be intensified to promote reliable kerbside
collection of recyclables. The development of a labelling
scheme for packaging, including plastics, will continue in
collaboration with the industry. Ardern added: “We will
work towards ensuring that these are made of high-value
alternatives like PET, HDPE and polypropylene, which can
be recycled and reprocessed. “We can ensure that New
Zealand’s future is not full of throw-aways but of smart
innovations and practical steps to reduce, reuse and
recycle.” Prime minister’s Chief Science Advisor professor
Juliet Gerrard released the Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa
New Zealand report that recommends implementing a senior director - policy analysis and economics at the
national plastics action plan, plastics data collection ACC, at a 5 December press briefing. For commodity
improvement, developing and enabling consistency in chemicals and polymers, China would have slapped
design, use and disposal, embedding Rethinking Plastics in new 10% tariffs on US low density polyethylene
the government agenda, as well as innovating, amplifying (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC),
and mitigating environmental and health impact of caprolactam and phthalic anhydride on 15 December.
plastics. Those are now off the table.

85
81 December 2019 Plastics News