Washington, D.C., November 21, 2007 - Yesterday, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), in a 5-1 vote, determined that Coated Free Sheet (CFS) paper imports from China, Indonesia, and Korea were not injuring nor threatening to injure the domestic industry. As a result, the anti-dumping and countervailing duties previously announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will not be imposed on CFS from these countries, and any deposits that have been collected will be refunded. The ITC vote terminates the year-long investigation. The investigation was initiated in 2006 by one U.S.-based paper supplier, NewPage Corporation; the industry as a whole did not petition for this investigation.
The following statement is from Michael Makin, President & CEO of Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF):
"PIA is a strong supporter of free and fair trade both at home and globally. 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.
PIA testified before the ITC that our members rely on an affordable paper supply that results from choices in the marketplace, and we implored the ITC to consider the negative economic consequences the proposed rates may have had upon the printing industry. We could not be more pleased that the ITC has weighed seriously the economic facts surrounding this case. Price, quality, and geographic supply are all factors printers consider when purchasing paper. Today-s ITC vote will allow PIA/GATF members continued choice and flexibility in the marketplace, allowing them to make the best business decisions for the benefit of their individual companies, employees, and customers.
Many dynamics surrounding the CFS investigation were less about the paper industry and more about larger issues concerning overall international trade policy. PIA applauds the ITC for asserting its authority in spite of a contentious political environment and for determining that the facts of the case concluded no injury to the domestic paper industry."