Paper Import Tariffs Struck Down

WASHINGTON, DC—Coated free sheet (CFS) paper imports from China, Korea and Indonesia will not be subject to anti-dumping and counter-veiling duties following a 5-1 decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that concluded the year-long investigation.

The determination was that CFS imports were not injuring or threatening to injure the domestic paper industry. Thus, the previously announced duties leveled against the Asian sources by the U.S. Department of Commerce will not stand.

It was good news for printers and a blow to the U.S. paper manufacturing sector, the latter of which appeared to be benefitting from the complaint originally levied by NewPage Corp. From the printer viewpoint, the PIA/GATF was thrilled with the decision.

“PIA is a strong supporter of free and fair trade, both at home and globally,” said PIA/GATF President Michael Makin in a statement. “As such, we commend the ITC’s vote on CFS imports and believe the ITC’s determination strikes the appropriate balance between protecting the domestic producer and the end user of an internationally traded product.

“In this particular case, end users of CFS, such as America’s printers, would have faced tariff rates on CFS imports from these three countries that, when combined, could have equaled nearly 150 percent.”

In a statement, the United Steelworkers union—which represents 4,300 NewPage employees in four states—said it is “extremely disturbed” with the ITC decision and will continue to “seek remedies to unfair subsidies and illegal dumping. Fair trade should not mean illegal trade.”