Page 31 - Plastics News June - 2020

US International Trade Court overturns ITC's EU recovery package must centre on circular
PET import determination economy says PCEP

he US Court of International Trade has asked the he Polyolefin Circular Economy Platform (PCEP) has
TUS International Trade Commission (ITC) to re- Tcalled for investment decisions taken by Member
States, the EU and
review its determination on imports of polyethylene
all economic actors,
terephthalate (PET) resin from five countries. Initially,
as part of the EU
the ITC determined that imported PET from Brazil,
recovery package to
Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan did not harm
b e f o c u s e d o n
the sales and profits of the US producers. This decision
d e l i v e r i n g t h e
was overturned by US Court of International Trade
circular economy.
Judge Gary Katzmann on 4 June. Judge Katzmann after M a r k V e s t e r ,
examining the record of the ITC's 2018 final chairman of PCEP,
investigation on PET resin from the five countries said: “Our members
presented a 42-page opinion. r e m a i n f u l l y
committed to the
t r a n s i t i o n t o a
circular economy
for polyolefins, with
all the activity
across the value chain that this entails. Maintaining
healthy waste management and recycling sectors are
critical stepping stones towards a more circular plastics
value chain. We need to invest in forward looking
infrastructure that will accelerate the transition to
circularity.“ Market developments caused by the Covid-
19 pandemic and hampered by the low price of virgin
materials and low oil prices, are putting real pressure
on business continuity for many actors in the polyolefin
The court concluded that substantial record evidence value chain.
was not presented to support ITC's determination. PCEP believes that in order to build Europe's recovery,
Following this ruling, the ITC will re-review whether all actions must be looked at in order to establish a level
the unfairly traded imports harmed domestic playing field for all materials. Investment today in
companies. Domestic PET resin industry lead counsel recycling technologies, and better collection and
Paul Rosenthal said: “The domestic producers and their sorting infrastructure, is vital. Any loss of current and
workers are gratified by the Court's decision and are future capacity at these key points could slow down the
hopeful that when the ITC reconsiders the case, it will transition to the circular economy. According to Mark
finally approve the much-needed relief from unfair Vester, chairman of PCEP, the organisation's members
imports that the industry so desperately needs.” As a remain fully committed to the transition to a circular
result, ITC will work on addressing the errors identified economy for polyolefins, with all the activity across the
by the court. The ITC will present its redetermination value chain that this entails. “Maintaining healthy
to the court within 90 days, or by 2 September. Judge waste management and recycling sectors are critical
Katzmann will consider the decision by ITC following a stepping stones towards a more circular plastics value
60-day period. chain. We need to invest in forward looking
infrastructure that will accelerate the transition to
circularity,” he urged.

June 2020 31 Plastics News