[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 24 (Thursday, March 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E299-E300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCTION OF DUTY SUSPENSION LEGISLATION

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                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 7, 2002

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce several duty 
suspension bills for materials used in the production of 
environmentally sensitive herbicides and insecticides that improve the 
quality of our lives.
  These duty suspension bills lower the cost of producing these 
products thereby lowering the cost to consumers and helping U.S. 
industries compete in the global marketplace. When American companies 
make the active ingredients for these chemicals, there is a proper role 
for duties to exist. However, when the active ingredients are only made 
by foreign companies, we needlessly increase product costs for

[[Page E300]]

American consumers by imposing duties on their importation. By 
introducing these bills, I am triggering a careful review of these 
proposals by the House Ways and Means Committee and the International 
Trade Commission to make sure there are no domestic producers of these 
active ingredients so no U.S. jobs will be negatively affected. In 
fact, these duty suspensions will make U.S. products more competitive, 
thus creating jobs in the U.S.
  Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to highlight the beneficial 
uses of the final products these chemicals will produce. Triflusulfuron 
Methyl formulated product is used in the production of a postemergence 
herbicide for sugar beets. Postemergence herbicides have the advantage 
of low application rates. The herbicide is only needed if weeds emerge 
around the sugar beets. Many other herbicides must be applied ahead of 
time to prevent weeds from developing regardless of whether they would 
have emerged naturally, needlessly introducing toxins into the 
environment. Benzyl Carbazate is a general fruit and vegetable 
insecticide. It has the unique ability to kill certain pests while 
leaving beneficial insects unharmed. Furthermore, Benzyl Carbazate is 
well within the margins of safety to mammalian, avian, and aquatic 
organisms. Esfenvalerate Technical is used in the production of 
pyrethroid insecticide. This environmentally sound product has 
significant use in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs offering 
broad-spectrum insect control across a wide range of crops. Finally, 
the single active ingredient, (S)-methyl 7-chloro-2, 5-dihydro-2-
[[(methoxycarbonyl) [4(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl] amino]--carbonyl] 
indeno [1,2-e] [1,3,4] oxadiazine-4a-(3H)carboxylate and application 
adjuvants, produces a proprietary insecticide for use on cotton, 
vegetables and fruit. The formulated products demonstrate good efficacy 
on target insect pests while preserving beneficial insects and mites, 
and offer a very favorable environmental profile.
  Duty suspension bills often pass with universal bipartisan support 
because they are common sense for consumers, for the environment, and 
for enhancing the competitiveness of our domestic industries. I urge 
support for these proposals after the appropriate committees and 
agencies have thoroughly vetted these measures.

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