Industry infrastructure trade organizations

The U.S. industry has several advantages over the rest of the world market modem mills, a highly skilled work force, a large domestic market, and an efficient transportation infrastructure. Major export markets for pulp are Japan, Italy, Germany, Mexico, and France. The U.S. Department of Commerce anticipates exports to grow faster than production for domestic markets through 2004. World Trade Organization (WTO) efforts to reduce tariffs include those on pulp and paper products if these are successful, the U.S. industry expects pulp and paper export rates to increase even further. 

This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (No. 13853009 to SS Nos. 16380060 and 18380057 to MK). This work was also carried out as a part of the Project for Development of a Technological Infrastructure for Industrial Bioprocesses on R D of New Industrial Science and Technology Frontiers of the Ministry of Economy, Trade Industry (METI), and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) (to SS). 

In addition to the supply chain, the plastics industry has a well-developed infrastructure. This includes trade organizations, professional societ ies, academic institutions, research centers, and an extensive network of service providers. 

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