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EU About to Shoot at US, Japan, Aussies ... Foot Wound Predicted
Ten of the European Union's leading trade partners have been barred from attending a high-level meeting to discuss the EU's planned overhaul of its chemicals legislation, even though the new rules could have a substantial impact on the 10 countries' exports.The 10 countries, which include Australia, the US, Japan and South Africa, asked formally at the end of February to take part in the two-day meeting, which starts on Tuesday in Luxembourg and comes ahead of the European Parliament's crucial review of the draft chemicals legislation. A European Commission spokeswoman said: "The Commission feels that we have to discuss among ourselves this internal business and it is not prudent to invite people from outside." Underlining the depth and range of concerns sparked by the EU chemicals reform, which is known as Reach, Australia published a study on Monday that suggests Reach would reduce Australian exports of key mineral products to Europe. The impact would be partly mitigated by the diversion of exports to other fast-growing markets, most notably China, and the study also concluded that Reach could lead to the relocation of metals processing from Europe to Asia. Australian and US officials expressed disappointment on Monday at the EU's decision to bar them from the meeting. Peter Grey, Australia's ambassador to the EU, said: "There are very important indirect costs linked to Reach and those cannot be overlooked." The Australian government urged the European Parliament yesterday to amend the draft legislation to exclude minerals, ores and concentrates. Separately, an EU study obtained by the FT and due to be released on Tuesday found the planned overhaul of rules governing the chemicals industry could impose a particularly significant burden on textile companies. That's the EU textile industry that is bleeding from Chinese competition already ... but of course that's in the poorer EU countries so who cares? What's that? You say the French textile cos. are hurting? Watch those feet as you aim that gun, commissioners. The study, part of a series of recent surveys examining the draft regulations' impact on business, suggests companies would have to abandon the production and use of several critically important substances because of the higher costs required by the proposal. The study claims textile companies would be unable to pass on these higher costs to their customers. These findings are likely to add to the controversy surrounding the proposed new chemicals regime. Textile companies are already suffering from the recent abolition of trade-restricting import quotas, which has led to a steep rise in textile imports from countries such as China and India. Reach, which was proposed by the European Commission, would force businesses to register some 30,000 substances with a new European chemicals agency. Companies would have to show that these substances cannot endanger humans and the environment, a requirement likely to demand expensive and time-consuming testing. But Reach's supporters say this is necessary because thousands of substances currently in use have never been properly assessed and they suspect some of them to be responsible for environmental damage and ailments such as allergies. Yup, gotta impose trade restrictions on successful capitalist countries when you suspect something. The chemicals industry and other business organisations have long complained the new rules would impose heavy costs, lead to job losses and force companies to move abroad. Reach needs to be endorsed by the parliament and EU member states, in a legislative review that could lead to big changes. these sanctimonious idiots are trying to hurt other countries and will end up crippling themselves too, but not before causing lots of damage. Posted by: too true 2005-05-10 |
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