Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • LogIn
  • News
  • Technology Focus
    • Features
    • Technical Papers
    • Analysis: Rubber mixing plants of the future
      Analysis: US probes dumping by ESBR suppliers
      Opinion: Tire labels stuck in a rut
      Analysis: NR pricing takes one step forward, two steps back
    • White paper: Role of tire innerliners in improving 'in-use rolling resistance'
      White paper: Why tire air retention matters now more than ever
      Nippon Soda: Use of 1,2-polybutadiene in CSM rubber applications
      Elastomers for Sustainability Top 10
  • Events
    • ERJ Events
    • ERJ Livestreams & Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Journey to Automation Awards 2020
      Sustainability: Top 10 E4S projects table
  • Maps & Reports
  • People
  • Directory
  • Digital Edition
  • Brainiac
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
April 05, 2011 12:00 AM

US to withdraw from IRSG, end contributions

ERJ Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    ERJ staff report (R&PN)

    Washington DC -- The US Department of State is to cease funding for US participation in the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), effective June 30, despite widespread protests from the US rubber industry. The US paid US$105 000 in fees and subscriptions to the IRSG in 2010, which was forecast to rise to $112 000 in 2011. The budget for 2012 is zero.

    The agency cites the Rubber Manufacturers Association's unhappiness with the accuracy of IRSG figures as a reason for ending US participation. However, the RMA said it long ago changed its mind and now enthusiastically supports US involvement.

    According to the State Department, the US formally submitted its intention to withdraw to the IRSG Secretariat Oct. 29.

    “As producers and consumers of rubber have changed over the years, the relevance of data produced by this organisation and the utility of US government participation for US industry has been put into question,” the agency said in a March 22 letter to the Rubber Trade Association of North America. “China, the world's largest consumer of rubber, is not a member.”

    Also, no important decisions on NR production are made during IRSG meetings, the State Department said. In the unlikely event that NR supplies to the US are threatened, the agency is prepared to aggressively assure US access, it said.

    The State Department letter was in response to a March 4 RTANA letter urging the agency to reconsider.

    “Ever since the Japanese World War II invasion of Southeast Asia, and continuing through the Korean Conflict (which remains a global problem to this day), natural rubber has, and should be, on the national 'radar screen' of the United States,” the Rubber Trade Association of North America said in a March 4 letter to the State Department. “We need an unbiased supply-and-demand assessment of this strategic commodity.”


    From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)

    Report on US funding of international organisations from US State Department (scroll down to page 115, or search on IRSG)

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    ExxonMobil rolls out new TPV challenger to EPDM weatherseals
    ExxonMobil rolls out new TPV challenger to EPDM weatherseals
    Rubber testing firms in UK-US link-up
    Rubber testing firms in UK-US link-up
    ERJ Tire Tracker
    ERJ Tire Tracker
    Free Newsletters

    Breaking news and in-depth coverage of essential topics delivered straight to your inbox.

    Subscribe today

    Get the latest news impacting the European rubber industry, from breaking news to razor-sharp analysis, in print and online.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

    Logo
    Contact Us

    @ 2019 European Rubber Journal. All rights reserved.
    Contact Us European Rubber Journal, Crain Communication LTD, Ground Floor 11 Ironmonger Lane, London EC2V 8EY, UK

    Customer Service:
    1-313-446-0450

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Staff
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
    • Technology Focus
      • Features
      • Technical Papers
    • Events
      • ERJ Events
      • ERJ Livestreams & Webinars
      • Industry Events
    • Maps & Reports
    • People
    • Directory
    • Digital Edition
    • Brainiac