Cecimo Aids EU AM Market Focus In Trade Deal

Cecimo, the European Association for the additive manufacturing (AM) sector, has endorsed the European Union’s (EU’s) commitment to keep AM as one of the priority areas in EU-U.S. talks for a trade deal on industrial goods. Forging this cooperation on regulations and standards is expected to aid in facilitating the growth of the technology on both sides and expand transatlantic AM trade opportunities.

At present, there are non-tariff barriers in the trade of AM solutions between the EU and the United States that are said to generate financial and administrative burdens for exporters. According to Cecimo, these barriers include lengthy processes to establish rules of origin for products, and are responsible for additional costs and custom delays.

An agreement that achieves the alignment of technical requirements between U.S. and European standards and regulations in conformity assessment procedures is expected to aid in cost savings and a greater level of clarity for trade requirements, while maintaining an equivalent level of protection to what is in place today, Cecimo says.

‘’Addressing barriers to EU-U.S. trade, such as double certification issues, would boost the growth of AM solutions in both economies. The fact AM has been singled out in the trade discussions right from the beginning is a sign of the importance of this technology for industrial trade,’’ says Stewart Lane, chairman of the Cecimo AM committee.

“CECIMO will continue to cooperate with trade negotiators and convey the views of Europe-based AM exporters on non-tariff barriers encountered in EU-U.S. trade,” says Dr. Roland Feichtl, Cecimo president. “Our aim is to ensure negotiations progress and deliver a final trade deal that improves access of European AM companies to the U.S. market.”