Page 56 - Plastics News March 2018

in the news

US starts duty probe against Thiruvananthapuram

PTFE resin from India administration comes up with
scrap vendor brigade

ven as US President Donald Trump has raised the
Ebogey of trade war with virtually every country in istrict collector K Vasuki and members of Suchitwa
the world, America has initiated a countervailing duty Dmissionhave formed a forum of scrap vendors to
investigation against import of a specialised kind of facilitate waste management in the city. With the
plastic - polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin - from India. creation of a registry of over 2500 scrap vendors,
According to reports, the US Department of Commerce district administration is paving a way for recycling
will determine whether Indian producers of PTFE resin are of non-bio degradable waste.
receiving unfair government subsidies.“The Department
Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said that
will act swiftly while ensuring a full and fair assessment
service of scrap vendors will be used to collect plastic
waste accumulated in rivers and public spaces.
He said photo ID and health cards will be provided
for scrap dealer. The minister was speaking at the
workshop 'Sanitation of city through Kerala Scrap
Merchants Association' at Panchayat Association hall,
Vellayambalam. He said that ID card will be issued by
district administration and health card by corporation.
"Removing plastic from ponds and rivers will be done as
part of Haritha Keralam mission", he added.Collector
K Vasuki said that scrap vendors are doing a silent
of the facts,” US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
revolution for the society. She said that the rate of
was quoted as saying. “The Trump administration is
committed to the enforcement of America’s trade laws
that ensure US businesses and workers have a fair chance
to compete.”According to Ross, exporters of PTFE resin
from India to the US received countervailable subsidies
of 3.9 per cent. As a result, the Commerce Department
will instruct US Customs and Border Protection to collect
cash deposits from importers of PTFE resin based on these
preliminary rates.

In 2016, imports of PTFE resin from India were valued
at an estimated $14.3 million.In its investigation at the
complaint of Chemours Company FC LLC, the Commerce recycling is higher in India compared to developed
Department calculated a preliminary subsidy rate countries. “Scrap vendors play a major role in this. A
of 3.9 per cent for the sole mandatory respondent, forum was formed on a persistent effort. Major drive
Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited. This subsidy rate also to collect non-biodegradable waste will be conducted
applies to all other Indian producers and exporters. The in the district with their support," Vasuki said. She said
Commerce Department is scheduled to announce its final that such drives will be conducted in every 3-4 months.
determination on May 15.

Plastics News March 2018 56