Should the U.S. employ RoHS-like standards for imported products?
Regulatory officials in the U.S. would have a hard time justifying RoHS-like thresholds for imported products only because a standard that applies just to foreign-made products would constitute a serious barrier to trade for overseas manufacturers. Furthermore, it would imply that products manufactured in the U.S. are held to a lower standard of “safety” than imported products. This is not the kind of message consumers expect to hear from our government. On the other hand, it’s clear now that the European RoHS thresholds are becoming a de facto global standard, influencing markets far beyond the EU. If the U.S. does not address this trend, it could find itself a “dumping ground” for products that can no longer be sold elsewhere as more and more countries adopt a RoHS approach. From this standpoint, standards on imported products could serve to protect consumers while simultaneously encouraging domestic manufacturers to develop “greener” products as a means to compete. So what’s the sol
