Page 42 - Plastics News November 2017

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Dourson wins key EPA vote; Dems US plastics industry maintains

say TSCA compromised trade surplus in 2016

he Senate Environment and he U.S. plastics industry
TPublic Works Committee voted Tcontinued to have a
11-10 to approve Michael Dourson trade surplus in 2016, even
as assistant administrator for though the size of that
the Office of Chemical Safety surplus declined from the
and Pollution Prevention at the previous year.The industry's
Environmental Protection Agency.
Dourson's nomination will now $4.7 billion surplus for 2016
go before the full Senate. But was down from the $7.1
Democrats on the committee said billion surplus posted in 2015, according to the 2017
the party line vote had broader Global Trends report published by the Plastics Industry
implications than just Dourson, saying it raised doubts Association. As in previous years, the resin sector
about the implementation of last year's major overhaul accounted for the entirety of the U.S. industry's trade
of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). surplus. The resin market had a surplus of $16.5 billion
"Mr. Dourson does not represent a person who can carry out in 2016, while plastic products had a deficit of $9
the work of this committee in the TSCA reform legislation billion, mold making had a deficit of $1.2 billion and
we passed," said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md). "This is an area machinery had a deficit of $1.7 billion.The resin trade
that Democrats and Republicans worked together to surplus was smaller than it was in 2015, while the
reform the TSCA law. It was not easy." industry's deficits in plastics products, mold making

Last year's TSCA rewrite, the first major revision to U.S. and machinery each were larger than they were in
chemical regulations in 40 years, passed with overwhelming the previous year.
bipartisan majorities, with the House voting 403-12.
The U.S. plastics industry's trade surplus has stood
In speeches during the October 25 vote, Democrats now for more than two decades. A strengthening U.S.
contrasted that with the party line vote of all 11 economy that depends heavily on imports to meet
Republicans in favor and all 10 Democrats opposing demand for plastics products was the primary cause
Dourson. "It doesn't bode well for the bipartisan
cooperation in this committee to pass legislation that we for the decline in the trade surplus, according to the
expect to be implemented in the manner in which it was report. The report also noted that in 2016, apparent
negotiated in this committee," Cardin said. consumption of plastics industry goods — a measure
of overall demand — increased in the United States by
Democrats on the EPW committee criticized Dourson for
having too many financial ties to industry he will now be 1.8 percent, from $284 billion to $289 billion in 2016.
regulating, including work in areas like fluoropolymers The U.S. plastics industry "maintains its trade surplus
and flame retardants for plastics. But Republicans said due to its strong cost position as a plastic materials
Dourson would bring more balance to EPA decision making, supplier, as well as its strong trade relationships with
suggesting the agency had been too precautionery in other countries — particularly our neighbors to the
assessing risk during the Obama administration. north and south," Plastics Industry Association Chief
The EPA issued a statement praising the vote for Dourson Economist Perc Pineda said in the release.
and other EPA nominees during the same committee On a country-by-country basis, Mexico and Canada
meeting. "I want to thank Chairman John Barrasso and continue to be the largest and second-largest export
members of the Senate Environment and Public Works
Committee for granting our nominees a fair hearing and markets for the U.S. plastics industry, respectively.
approving their nominations," said EPA Administrator Scott Pineda added that the report "shows that maintaining
Pruitt. "These top leaders in their fields will bring positive the strength of this continental relationship, and taking
change to EPA's mission to protect human health and the care with regard to the renegotiation of NAFTA, are
environment. We look forward to a full Senate vote on both paramount to the plastics industry's continued
these highly-qualified leaders," he said. ability to grow and compete globally."

Plastics News N ovember 2017 42