EVENT RECAP

More than 30 representatives from companies representing specialty and fine chemical sectors, including agricultural, performance and pharmaceutical chemicals, and key industry service providers made the trip to the nation’s capital September 17-18 for the 2019 SOCMA Policy Summit.

The industry’s largest advocacy event of the year provides a platform for companies to engage in constructive dialogue with lawmakers and regulators on critical issues impacting business growth. During this year’s Summit, SOCMA members asked Congress to:

• Pass the U.S.-Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA)
  USMCA is critical to support manufacturing jobs, economic growth, and regional commerce across North America. The new pact modernizes rules of origin for the chemical industry and guarantees that virtually all U.S. exports will enter Canadian and Mexican markets tariff-free.
• Ensure the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program is reauthorized
  A multi-year reauthorization will provide the specialty chemical industry the certainty needed to make long-term facility investments and enable the CFATS program to operate effectively. Without further action by Congress, the program will expire in April 2020.
• Ratify the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB)
  MTB allow manufacturers to petition for the refund of tariffs on certain chemical substances not domestically available. The MTB program will expire in December 2020 if Congress does not pass legislation to ratify another cycle of tariff relief petitions, or amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to ensure permanent duty suspensions or reductions for MTB-eligible products.

SOCMA members reached more than 70 House and Senate offices and key committees or jurisdiction, providing significant opportunity to advance these important legislative issues.

The Policy Summit also offered SOCMA members ample time to interact with U.S. federal agencies. During these regulatory meetings, attendees learned about major regulatory developments impacting the specialty and fine chemical manufacturing sector, including:

• TSCA implementation efforts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
• Enforcement and compliance initiatives from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
• Tariff implementation and current free trade negotiations from the U.S. Trade Representative, and
• The Risk Management Program reconsideration, CERCLA 108(b) financial assurance rulemakings, and the status of the RCRA Manufacturing Process Unit Exclusion, and
• CFATS program developments and the outlook for reauthorization from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

As a key part of SOCMA’s advocacy efforts, members find value in having their voice heard in face-to-face meetings with members of Congress and regulatory officials.

“This was my first experience with the Policy Summit, and I found it to be extremely valuable. The topics discussed by the speakers, the issues and talking points for our meetings on the hill were spot on for our businesses. SOCMA’s’ knowledge of current issues, bills and impact to the chemical industry enables member companies to help shape the regulatory landscape.”

Another SOCMA member said her company’s team came away “feeling like this was our most successful day on the hill to date.”
Our SOCMA team is already looking ahead to next year’s event, so please stay tuned and make plans for your company to attend the 2020 Summit to help the industry shape policy and regulations important to your business.