U.S. Paper Firms Accuse Five Countries of Paper Dumping

WASHINGTON, DC—Four U.S. paper manufacturers and the United Steelworkers (USW) have filed antidumping petitions against unfairly priced imports of certain types of uncoated paper in sheets from China, Indonesia, Brazil, Portugal and Australia, and countervailing duty petitions against subsidized imports from China and Indonesia with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).

The four manufacturers are Domtar Corp., Packaging Corp. of America, Finch Paper and P.H. Glatfelter Co.

The petitions ask the agencies responsible for investigating illegal trade practices to impose duties to offset the dumping of certain uncoated paper from all five countries and to offset the subsidies on imports from China and Indonesia. The petitions cover all uncoated paper in sheets (including cut-size and folio), weighing between 40 and 150 gsm, and having a GE brightness level of 85 or higher.

The antidumping and countervailing duty petitions indicate that imports of these products from the five targeted countries increased 44 percent from 2011 to 2013, and another 40 percent from January-September 2013 to January-September 2014.

The imports increased despite declining U.S. demand. During that time, shipments of certain uncoated paper from domestic manufacturers declined by approximately 8 percent from 2011 to 2013, and another 9 percent from January-September 2013 to January-September 2014.

John Williams, president and CEO of Domtar, commented: "Competition makes us a better, stronger company, but it must be fair competition. This petition asks the government to look at the facts and make any adjustments required to establish a level playing field."

Under the antidumping and countervailing duty statutes, the ITC is expected to make a preliminary injury determination in early March.

The Department of Commerce is expected to issue preliminary determinations in the countervailing duty investigations in April (June if extended) and in the antidumping duty investigations in June (August if extended). All of the investigations will be completed within 13 to 14 months.