Jun 24 2014
The umbrella associations EUROMAP (European Plastics and Rubber Machinery) and SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association (United States) have signed a declaration of intent on free trade within the plastics machinery industry to strengthen their competitive position in the global marketplace thereby helping to safeguard the industry's 65,000 jobs.
Today the European and American plastics machinery markets account for 50 percent of the global market with sales totalling 15 billion euro.
"The TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) is a milestone in terms of cooperation in our sector, and this should have a very positive impact on our business relationships," said William R. Carteaux, SPI president and CEO.
Complete dismantling of tariffs
A key feature of free trade is the complete dismantling of tariffs, which will provide an instant boost for export sales of machinery. Many of the objections being expressed are nothing compared with the opportunities that would arise from an agreement. Tens of thousands of jobs could be created in Europe and the US across the whole machinery manufacturing sector. "TTIP presents an opportunity not a risk," says Thorsten Kühmann, Secretary General of EUROMAP. Politicians on both sides of the Atlantic should therefore do more to promote TTIP among the population.
Harmonisation of technical standards
Both sides are aiming to harmonise safety standards and have already set up international (ISO) working groups. This will improve operating safety and simplify deliveries of machinery, which, in turn, will save time and effort and boost competitiveness.
Give medium-sized machinery manufacturers more of a say.
Both umbrella associations are urging political representatives in the EU and the US to give greater consideration in their talks to the interests of the machinery manufacturing industry, which is largely made up of medium-sized enterprises. To date the requirements of these companies have been largely ignored, although at 13 percent of total EU exports to the US, machinery manufacturers account for a greater share than the motor industry.
Founded in 1937, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association promotes growth in the $373 billion U.S. plastics industry. Representing nearly 900 thousand American workers in the third largest U.S. manufacturing industry, SPI delivers legislative and regulatory advocacy, market research, industry promotion and the fostering of business relationships and zero waste strategies. SPI also owns and produces the international NPE trade show. All profits from NPE are reinvested into SPI's industry services. Find SPI online at www.plasticsindustry.org and www.inthehopper.org.
EUROMAP is Europe' s Association for plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers. This is a major European industry with almost 3,700 companies which together have an annual turnover of more than 17 billion EURO and about 100,000 employees. EUROMAP covers the plastics and rubber machinery manufacturing industries in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The national associations for all these countries are members of EUROMAP.