Chemicals

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U.S. and EU representatives reaffirmed their commitment to open investment policies at the second meeting of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), which took place in Brussels, Belgium, on May 13. They also moved forward on removing restrictions on U.S. poultry exports to the EU and addressing EU concerns about U.S. approval procedures for certain electrical products, and discussed the EU's REACH chemicals regulation. The American delegation was led by Daniel Price, Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs and U.S. chair of the TEC. European Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen headed the EU side. 

• EU's Proposed Chemical Rules Could Disrupt Trade, U.S. Envoy Says (Jun 9, 2006)
• Report Outlines Hazards to Children Posed by Toxic Exposures (May 25, 2006)
• U.S. Proposes Zero Tariffs for Medicine, Medical Devices at WTO (Feb 27, 2006)  
• U.S. Agencies Welcome Congressional Progress on Chemical Treaty (Dec 20, 2005)
• U.S. Participating in Uruguay Conference on Hazardous Chemicals (Apr 29, 2005)
• New Tracking Tool Available for Chemical Health Database (Nov 12, 2004)
• Global Regulatory System for Chemicals Under Review (Aug 27, 2004)
• U.S. Voices Concerns over Latest EC Chemicals Proposal (Jun 23, 2004)
• U.S. and 11 Other Nations to Use Methyl Bromide Through 2005 (Mar 27, 2004)
• Ries Cites U.S., EU Efforts to Reconcile Regulatory Approaches (Oct 17, 2003)
• U.S. Remains Committed to Partnership with "United Europe" (Jul 22, 2003)
• Foreign Trade Standards Often Ignore Science, U.S. Group Says (May 6, 2003)

Major Statements & More

• EU's Proposed Chemical Rules Could Disrupt Trade, U.S. Envoy Says (Jun 9, 2006)
• U.S. Voices Concerns over Latest EC Chemicals Proposal (Jun 23, 2004)
• Ries Cites U.S., EU Efforts to Reconcile Regulatory Approaches (Oct 17, 2003)
• U.S. Remains Committed to Partnership with "United Europe" (Jul 22, 2003)
• Foreign Trade Standards Often Ignore Science, U.S. Group Says (May 6, 2003)

U.S.-EU Highlights

2008: U.S., EU Discuss Investment, REACH at Second Transatlantic Economic Council Meeting (May 13, 2008)

REACH, the proposed reform of the EU's chemicals policy, will affect all global supply chains that produce and use chemicals, and U.S. exporters to Europe need to carefully consider this proposed piece of environmental legislation, according to a webpage from by the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) at the U.S. Mission to the EU. The details of the REACH Regulation are still being negotiated within the European institutions, but it could become law in the 25 Member States of the EU as early as 2007. The REACH webpage is especially for U.S. exporters to Europe to inform them about requirements under REACH and to help them prepare for compliance.

2006: Commission Response to EU Trading Partners on REACH (Aug 1, 2006) page 1 and page 2 | EU's Proposed Chemical Rules Could Disrupt Trade, U.S. Envoy Says (Jun 9, 2006) (Statement by EU Trading Partners (Jun 8, 2006) and Amb. Gray Statement (Jun 8, 2006))

2005: U.S. Participating in Uruguay Conference on Hazardous Chemicals (Apr 29, 2005)

2004: U.S. Voices Concerns over Latest EC Chemicals Proposal (Jun 23, 2004) | U.S. and 11 Other Nations to Use Methyl Bromide Through 2005 (Mar 27, 2004)

2003: Ries Cites U.S., EU Efforts to Reconcile Regulatory Approaches (Oct 17, 2003) | U.S. Remains Committed to Partnership with "United Europe" (Jul 22, 2003) | U.S. Comments on the EU's Draft Chemicals Regime (Jul 10, 2003) | Amb. Schnabel on the EU's Developing Chemicals Regime (Mar 20, 2003)

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