Chinese Paper Tariffs Rankle U.S. Printers —Michelson

While putting tariffs on coated paper may, as NewPage sees it, help to “level the playing field” (with foreign competitors being improperly subsidized), this action has many U.S. commercial printers, print buyers and the PIA/GATF up in arms. Noting that paper purchases account for approximately 22 percent of printers’ revenues, on average (and, for some plants, as much as 40 percent), the national association, for one, believes that shortages or disruptions brought about by the ruling will have a serious negative impact on the U.S. printing industry. “It is critical that printers have purchase options and access to a variety of paper producers in order to remain cost-competitive in the global market,” wrote PIA/GATF President and CEO Michael Makin, in a position statement letter directed to the U.S. International Trade Commission.