[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF DUTY REDUCTION AND SUSPENSION LEGISLATION

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                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 2002

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce several duty 
reduction and suspension bills for colorants used in ink-jet printers, 
in addition to 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 colorants and 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 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. NMSDA is used 
to produce a herbicide for broadleaf weed control in corn. This 
environmentally sound herbicide is within the margins of safety to 
mammalian, avian, and aquatic organisms. R118118 Salt is used to 
produce a postemergence soybean herbicide. 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. Thiamethoxam Technical is used 
in production of a neonicotinoid insecticide that targets ``sucking and 
chewing pests,'' that are harder to target, without causing harm to the 
crops. Prodiamine Technical is used in production of an environmentally 
sound herbicide used in vegetation management control. Finally, 
Flauzinam 500 F formulated product is used to control plant diseases on 
peanuts and potatoes. It has an environmentally sound profile that is 
particularly well suited for resistance management programs.
  The ink-jet printer colorants are beneficial to the American 
consumer. These colorants are specially formulated for enhanced 
quality, specially designed characteristics include improved wet-
fastness on plain paper, improved opearability, higher chroma than the 
current industry standard and high humid-fastness to reduce bleed and 
hue change. These colorants are widely used in the small and home 
office settings, as well as in photorealistic printing. It is essential 
we give the America consumers both choice and quality.
  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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