Contact: Paula Weis
(202) 974-5282

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPI PETITION TO NATIONAL LEADERSHIP SEEKS POLICY CHANGES TO HELP U.S. PLASTICS INDUSTRY REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN GLOBAL MARKET

WASHINGTON, DC (June 13, 2003) - The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) is spearheading a petition to Congress and the Bush Administration, stressing the importance of the plastics manufacturing industry to the nation's economy and seeking policy changes that will help the industry remain viable in an increasingly competitive global market.

Plastics processing is the nation's fourth-largest manufacturing sector, the petition points out. However, the plastics industry, which provides 1.5 million jobs and contributes more than $320 billion in annual shipments, has seen a significant economic downturn in the past few years. In fact, the plastics processing industry's $894-million trade surplus has plummeted to a $1.4-million trade deficit in just two years, due in part to a weakened economy and deleterious domestic and international trade policies that have forced processors out of business or offshore.

Through the petition, which carries the message that "Plastics Manufacturing Matters!," SPI hopes to unify the voice of the plastics industry and bring to the attention of lawmakers and policymakers the urgent need to examine the factors that are causing U.S. manufacturing to be less competitive worldwide.

• Continuous and aggressive negotiations to promote free and fair trade worldwide and to ensure that U.S. trading partners, including China, live up to their obligations under the World Trade Organization.



• Energy initiatives that provide reliable sources of, and reasonable costs for, power for plastics manufacturing.



• U.S. tax policies that encourage capital investment and manufacturing growth in the United States.



• Tort reform that puts an end to frivolous lawsuits that impede job-creating investments.



• Sensible and meaningful insurance reform that allows employers to provide critical medical or other insurance to employees in a cost-effective manner.



• Implementation of a regulatory regime based on sound science that also protects our workers and the environment.

The petition was developed as part of SPI's ongoing efforts to address the issue of global trade policies that impact plastics manufacturers and to increase awareness of the plastics industry's wide-reaching impact on the U.S. economy as a whole. Growing industry concern about China's increasing role in the global plastics market and the future viability of the U.S. plastics sector precipitated a series of events, beginning with a "China Fly-In" last month in Washington that culminated in the creation of the industry-wide petition.

SPI will kick off the campaign for signatures during NPE 2003, the World's Plastics Showcase, June 23-27, in Chicago. The grassroots effort to collect signatures will continue throughout the summer, with an electronic version of the petition available on the SPI Web site at http://www.plasticsindustry.org/feedback/pmmsurvey.htm. The association hopes to compile thousands of signatures from plastics industry leaders and will present the petition, in its entirety, to Congress, the White House and key regulatory agencies during the association's September board meeting.

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's 1,300 members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.5 million workers and provides more than $320 billion in annual shipments. For more information, visit SPI on the Web at www.plasticsindustry.org. Join SPI in Chicago June 23-27, for NPE 2003, the World's Plastics Showcase. The triennial event, sponsored by SPI, features innovations and technological breakthroughs from more than 2,000 exhibitors serving all facets of the industry, including automotive, appliance, medical, packaging and more. For more information, link to the Web at www.npe.org.

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