Chinese Paper Tariffs Rankle U.S. Printers —Michelson

The preliminary decision, which will likely be challenged by China in U.S. federal court and with the World Trade Organization, will culminate in a final determination by the DOC as early as mid-June. According to U.S. government estimates, imports of coated free sheet paper products from China increased by approximately 177 percent in volume from 2005 to 2006, and were valued at roughly $224 million last year. The investigation and ultimate ruling resulted from an October 2006 petition filed with the DOC by Dayton, OH-based NewPage Corp., reportedly the largest coated paper manufacturer in North America. (To better understand NewPage’s position on why it filed the petition in the first place, read its “Open Letter to Printers” advertisement appearing on page 33 in this issue.)