This story originally appeared in the October 2016 issue of Resource Recycling.
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This story originally appeared in the October 2016 issue of Resource Recycling.
Subscribe today for access to all print content.
Chinese customs authorities are inspecting every container entering the country at certain ports, causing longer shipping times. And some observers say the enforcement efforts could also be driving down recovered paper prices.
China may be gearing up to further crack down on waste materials coming into the country, which could impact scrap imports.
China’s three-month-old import action has stalled shipments of some recovered materials from the U.S. and led to substantial import fee increases for shipments that do clear customs.
The U.S. and China signed a deal last week seemingly calming their trade war. But Chinese tariffs on OCC, recycled pulp and other materials will remain for the time being.
Officials in Beijing are set to enact new requirements around the purity of recycled plastic pellets imported into China.
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India, the largest overseas market for U.S. mixed paper, has tightened quality standards and reduced its recycled fiber import volume.
The latest permit figures from the Chinese government illustrate the country’s goals to continue reducing its recycled fiber intake.
Recent actions by the Chinese government indicate the country will likely ban imports of OCC and almost all other fiber grades in 2021. Such a move would come in the wake of industry-shaking mixed paper and plastic prohibitions already in place.
The Chinese government will not implement a planned tariff increase on OCC and other recovered fiber imported from the U.S., nor scrap aluminum, after the two countries came to an agreement in recent trade talks. But existing tariffs will remain.