Business Management - Government/Governmental

A U.S. Department of Commerce proposal to impose stiff tariffs on coated free sheet paper imported from China and Indonesia would help save American jobs and allow domestic companies to compete more fairly for business, supporters say.

But the plan could launch an international tariff war, warns a Connecticut printer and other opponents, that could backfire and almost certainly would drive up the cost of printing everything from multicolored catalogs, magazines and books to advertising flyers, menus and greeting cards.

Last September, a petition was filed charging Indonesia and China with illegal subsidies and dumping during 2008 and 2009, which subsequently caused "material injury" to the U.S. paper industry.

Well, my friends, it’s a new year. In the paper industry, that means the end of the “Black Liquor” tax credits that served to subsidize the industry in 2009 to the tune of $8 billion.

Several U.S.-based coated paper manufacturers, led by NewPage Corp., are asking the federal government to level the playing field by imposing duties on China and Indonesia for subsidizing and dumping certain coated paper.

MONTREAL—The Quebec Superior Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York have given their blessings to Quebecor World's reorganizational plans, leaving the company perhaps days away from exiting bankruptcy protection. A joint hearing to resolve any outstanding issues relating to the terms of the new securities to be issued by Quebecor World will be held on Monday.

MONTREAL—Creditors have approved Quebecor World's U.S. and Canadian plans of reorganization, clearing another hurdle as the insolvent printer bids to exit bankruptcy protection next month. More than 86 percent of the 2,800 ballots cast by creditors green lighted the U.S. plan, while 96 percent of creditors gave an affirmative vote for the Canadian plan. A joint confirmation hearing on both plans is scheduled for June 30.

SEGUIN, TX—Former Story Communications and Webstar Printing owner Mike Story pleaded guilty to lying to his bankers and will serve six months "shock probation" in state prison and receive another 10 years of probation upon completing the six-month stretch, the Seguin Gazette-Enterprise reported. He has also been ordered to pay nearly $600,000 in restitution.

EUGENE, OR—Printing supplies distributor Unisource Worldwide has filed a lawsuit seeking $3.3 million it says is owed by defunct printer Northwest Web, The Register-Guard reported. The printer closed its doors last November. According to the paper, Unisource continued making deliveries to Northwest Web through November, despite not receiving payments since April. A lawyer for Unisource told the Register-Guard that the chance of his client getting paid at this point is "pretty slim."

LIVONIA, MI—Valassis Communications has filed a countersuit against Fraser Papers in district court in Maine. Earlier, Fraser had taken Valassis to court over an alleged unpaid bill for 1.8 million pounds of specialty paper valued at $933,000.  In Valassis' countersuit, the printer contends it has not paid the amount allegedly due Fraser because of an earlier outstanding debt owed by Fraser to Valassis for defective paper.

The Lacey Act, a 100 year-old law that prohibits trafficking in illegal wildlife, was amended this year to protect a broader range of plant products, specifically addressing illegal logging. Through the revision, the United States became the first country in the world to ban the importation, exportation and sale of illegally-sourced wood products.