EDANA and INDA, the two global nonwovens associations, are working hand in hand to encourage the implementation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the United States and the European Union.

In April, INDA and EDANA decided to form a joint International Trade & Trends Advisory Board with the objective of promoting the free and fair trade of nonwovens globally, starting by taking an active role in the recently launched TTIP talks. If successful, the TTIP is said to create the world’s largest free trade area and generate more than $5 trillion in trade, investment and sales.

Largest free trade area

It is also thought to provide the stage to eliminate unfair tariff imbalances and non-tariff barriers that may have hindered the growth of nonwoven fabrics industry between the two trading partners. Associations are calling for the fast-track, permanent elimination of the EU’s 4.3% import tariff on nonwovens coming from the United States. There currently are no tariffs on EU nonwovens coming into the United States.

More recently, both INDA and EDANA have provided submissions to their respective trade officials outlining the US and European nonwovens industries' key objectives for these important talks. The Associations have also urged negotiators to guarantee mutually ambitious tariff phaseout obligations on a wide range of nonwoven products.

Agreement

The Associations have also asked trade officials to protect the innovation, technological change and product development that are vital to the nonwovens industry by including equally stringent intellectual property protections in the pact.

Finally, they have asked negotiators to include regulatory provisions that remove unnecessary barriers to growth, promote transparency, and dialogue while at the same time allowing US and EU governments to retain sovereignty to tailor regulations to suit the needs of their people.

Pierre Wiertz, general manager of EDANA, said: “At the heart of our service is the commitment to free and fair trade for our member companies, and EDANA and INDA have a strong history in advocating for the elimination of tariffs. Trade between our two regions represents a significant share of nonwovens global economy, and the TTIP would deliver benefits to our member companies, who both employ large numbers of employees directly, and also support business across a range of industries and levels of the supply chain.”

Dave Rousse, INDA president, commented: "The European Union is a dynamic economy and critical import/export market and trading partner for the U.S. nonwovens industry. INDA is pleased to be able to work so closely with EDANA to coordinate our objectives to make sure the TTIP achieves the full extent of its ambitions.”

www.inda.org

www.edana.org