The United States (US) called for China to not implement its restrictions on waste imports on Friday (23 March), saying the new quality rules move the material away from “productive reuse and toward disposal”.
The US raised concerns about the ban, and a subsequent revision of standards for a variety of scrap metals and paper, at the World Trade Organisation’s Council for Trade in Goods on Friday, according to Reuters news agency.
It was reported a US representative told the meeting that the United States recognised China’s environmental concerns but Beijing’s approach seemed to be having the “opposite effect” to what was intended, and its rules had changed far too quickly for industry to adjust.
“We request that China immediately halt implementation and revise these measures in a manner consistent with existing international standards for trade in scrap materials, which provide a global framework for transparent and environmentally sound trade in recycled commodities.”
“China’s import restrictions on recycled commodities have caused a fundamental disruption in global supply chains for scrap materials, directing them away from productive reuse and toward disposal,” the representative reportedly said.
“We request that China immediately halt implementation and revise these measures in a manner consistent with existing international standards for trade in scrap materials, which provide a global framework for transparent and environmentally sound trade in recycled commodities.”
The EU’s representative said China’s policy would force material to be rerouted to developing countries, which it said may not have safe recycling or disposal facilities.
The EU said it appreciated China’s goal but were “not convinced about how it was trying to get there”.
In response, the Chinese representative said with the country’s large population China was obliged to restrict imports of waste while cleaning up at home.
“China is seeking a path toward harmonisation of man and nature,” the trade official quoted China’s delegate as saying, according to Reuters.
