The Chinese General Administration of Custom’s National Sword programme aimed at cutting illegal smuggling of ‘foreign waste’ continues to impact the legitimate commodity flow of materials, principally paper and plastic, into China.

On 18 July 2017, the Chinese reinforced their position by announcing to the World Trade Organisation’s Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee that it would stop accepting certain solid wastes. 24 types of solid waste, including some WEEE plastics, will be affected by the ban, which is due to enter into force by the end of the year. At the current time, it has not been possible to assess the precise nature of the ban and whether it would apply only to unprocessed/contaminated wastes, or whether it may apply to certain processed materials including, for example, scrap metal produced to standards/specifications other than the ones notified.

Plastics that will be affected include HS3915 – waste, parings and plastic scrap, including the following WEEE plastics:

• 391510 Ethylene polymers; waste, parings and scrap
• 301520 Styrene polymers; waste, parings and scrap
• 391530 Vinyl chloride polymers; waste, parings and scrap
• 391590 Plastics n.e.c. n heading no. 3015; waste, parings and scrap

We understand that China has stopped issuing import licences for plastic waste. However, some imports are getting through until existing import licences expire. However, it is not known how much capacity there is or how long these imports will continue. BMRA continues to monitor the situation very closely and is in regular contact with its colleagues at the BIR and EuRIC and will keep members up-to-date as the issue evolves. In the meantime, please contact Howard for further information or copies of the Chinese WTO notification and related documents.