Commerce considers monitoring copper scrap exports
The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security has been asked by two American copper trade associations to monitor exports of copper scrap.
The agency, better known for its work in the enforcement of export controls, received the monitoring petition from the Copper & Brass Fabricators Council and Non-Ferrous Founders’ Society on April 7.
The Bureau of Security and Industry has the authority under the Export Administration Regulations to monitor and control exports of scrap metals. Under the rules, the United States may restrict the export of goods when necessary to protect the domestic economy from the “excessive drain of scarce materials and to reduce the serious inflationary impact of foreign demand,” the agency said.
The agency will take initial public comments regarding the petition by May 13. Written comments that respond to the initial comments are due by May 27. All written comments must be sent to the agency by no later than June 7. The Bureau of Industry and Security will post all comments on its Web-site: http://www.bis.doc.gov.
China has recently imported large volumes of commodities, such as copper scrap, to fuel its industrial boom.