Barriers to Trade and Investment in SMM Technologies |
Introduction
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Call for Case Studies:
Barriers to Trade & Investment in SMM Technologies in APEC Economies
Barriers to Trade & Investment in SMM Technologies in APEC Economies
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Department of Commerce, through the US-APEC Technical Assistance to Advance Regional Integration (US-ATAARI) activity, seek stakeholder case studies of barriers to trade and investment in sustainable materials management (SMM) technologies or projects in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region.
To promote an enabling regulatory environment for trade and investment in sustainable materials management (SMM) technologies and solutions within the APEC region, the United States has commissioned a survey of APEC economies’ official definitions for six key SMM terms, including:
To promote an enabling regulatory environment for trade and investment in sustainable materials management (SMM) technologies and solutions within the APEC region, the United States has commissioned a survey of APEC economies’ official definitions for six key SMM terms, including:
- Waste (Municipal Solid Waste or Household Waste)
- Recyclable Material
- Natural Resource
- Biomass
- Renewable Energy
- Waste-to-Energy or Energy-from-Waste
In particular, the US-ATAARI research team will analyze how economies’ definitions impede trade and investment in SMM technologies and solutions. For example, until recently one economy defined Municipal Solid Waste as a natural resource, and local regulations impose stringent local equity requirements on any foreign direct investment in projects utilizing natural resources. Since municipal solid waste is considered a natural resource, any foreign investor in waste-to-energy projects was subject to local equity requirements. As such, the definition of MSW posed a direct barrier to foreign investment. Similarly, if an economy lacks a definition of a SMM term, it can create a confusing regulatory landscape for potential traders & investors.
The research team solicits additional case studies on barriers to trade and investment posed by APEC economies’ definitions of the aforementioned key terms to inform its analysis of economies’ definitions.
The research team solicits additional case studies on barriers to trade and investment posed by APEC economies’ definitions of the aforementioned key terms to inform its analysis of economies’ definitions.
Survey responses are requested by Friday, March 17, 2017 at 17:00 Eastern Standard Time.
If you have questions regarding this survey, or would like to provide supplemental information on your case, please contact Mr. Alex GINN (aginn@nathaninc.com) and Ms. Ann KATSIAK (akatsiak@nathaninc.com).
US-ATAARI is a five-year activity, funded and managed by USAID/U.S. State Department that provides capacity building to strengthen the APEC Secretariat and deliver technical assistance and training aimed at supporting APEC in achieving its policy objectives with a particular emphasis on developing member economies. The activity is implemented by U.S.-based economic consulting firm, Nathan Associates.
US-ATAARI is a five-year activity, funded and managed by USAID/U.S. State Department that provides capacity building to strengthen the APEC Secretariat and deliver technical assistance and training aimed at supporting APEC in achieving its policy objectives with a particular emphasis on developing member economies. The activity is implemented by U.S.-based economic consulting firm, Nathan Associates.