The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) recently held meetings with members of Chinese trade associations, including the China Association of Metal Scrap Utilization (CAMU), to further boost trade in the region. China is the world’s largest waste importer with shipments within the wide scope of waste estimated at around 50 million mt annually.
BIR delegates discussed tightened controls, improved logistics, and streamlined processes at customs, while ISRI warned that the proposal to impose taxes on goods entering the US may harm industries including steel scrap. According to ISRI, such tax schemes would hamper the free flow of materials including scrap across the border. As this tax will be applicable not only to Mexico, but also to countries such as Canada, Europe, Asia and South America, ISRI said it would have a serious impact on scrap trade and activities of industries that rely on scrap imports.
According to US Census information, Total ferrous scrap imports to the US in 2016 were 3,863,519 mt while total ferrous scrap imports in 2016 from Canada and Mexico alone were 3,029,207 mt (78 percent).