INDA and EDANA Join Forces to Promote Free and Fair Trade Globally
Efforts will benefit nonwoven companies worldwide
April 23, 2013, Cary, NC and Brussels, Belgium. The two global nonwovens associations, EDANA and INDA announced today they are joining efforts to promote the free and fair trade of Nonwovens globally starting with an active role in the upcoming US-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement negotiations. As a start, EDANA will volunteer Nonwovens for “fast track” elimination of the current 4.3% tariff on nonwoven imports into the EU from the US. There currently are no tariffs on EU Nonwovens coming into the US.
“A large number of our member companies operate globally today or will in the near future. Creating a level playing field on tariffs will benefit them greatly as they expand globally,” says Dave Rousse, INDA President. “For the good of the industry and as a matter of policy, EDANA believes in free and fair trade and is willing to volunteer for elimination the current tariff on Nonwovens coming from the US. And there are a number of other countries with high tariffs on Nonwovens that we can address as well,” says Pierre Wiertz, EDANA General Manager.
Responding to the rapidly expanding global nature of the Nonwovens industry, the associations will work together to aggressively advocate policy changes that will enhance nonwoven trade between countries. To help guide their efforts, EDANA and INDA will form an International Trade & Trends Advisory Board (T&T Board) composed of Governmental Affairs representatives from both associations and include representatives from each association’s member companies.
Besides tariffs, this group will also work on a proper classification of Nonwovens for trade purposes. Most, but not all nonwovens, as defined by the global industry with reference to ISO 9092, are currently classified under section XI (Textiles and textile articles), chapter 56, heading 56.03 of the Harmonized System. This classification is grossly outdated, inadequate and insufficiently flexible. In many countries, textiles are an important industry which has historically requested customs duties to protect domestic manufacturers. However, some of these countries do not have a robust Nonwovens industry to protect, yet Nonwovens get snared in the protective tariff policy. As a result, a separate trade classification of Nonwovens, in their own category or as an Engineered Fabric, will be another objective of the T&T Board.
“INDA and EDANA member companies represent a large share of the world’s nonwoven output. By working together, we can help our members’ business as well as support the growth of the entire nonwovens industry,” says Pierre Wiertz, EDANA General Manager. “Though we have worked closely together over the years on a variety of issues, I am particularly excited about this deeper coordination of our efforts to expand nonwoven trade globally,” says Dave Rousse, INDA President.
About INDA
INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry doing business globally. Since 1968, INDA networking events have helped members connect, innovate and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy and issue advocacy help members succeed by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies. For more information visit www.inda.org.
About EDANA
EDANA helps its members to design their future, serving more than 235 companies in the nonwovens and related industries, across 37 countries. Its mission is to create the foundation for sustainable growth of the nonwovens and related industries through active promotion, education and dialogue. Information about upcoming events can be found at www.edana.org.
For further information please contact:
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Phil Pitt,
Director of Marketing
INDA
Telephone: (919) 233-1210 ext. 117
Email: ppitt@inda.org
Website: www.inda.org
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Abby Bailey,
Marketing and Communications Director EDANA
Telephone: +32 2 734 93 10
Fax: +32 2 733 35 18
E-mail: abby.bailey@edana.org
Website: www.edana.org
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