Reston, Va. – Association for PRINT Technologies (APTech?) Vice President, Government Affairs Mark J. Nuzzaco praised the International Trade Commission’s decision to terminate duties on Canadian uncoated groundwood (UGW) paper (newsprint) announced today. He also endorsed the statement issued by Stop Tariffs on Printers & Publishers (STOPP), a coalition of printers, publishers, retailers, paper suppliers, distributors and printing technology suppliers—of which APTech is a member— agreeing that the ITC’s decision will help to preserve the vitality of local newspapers threatened by an unwarranted “paper tax”, and prevent job losses in the printing and publishing sectors that employ 600,000 Americans.

Earlier this year the U.S. Commerce Department (DOC) imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on UGW newsprint made in Canada in response to a petition filed by North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC)—an outlier in the industry—that alleged it was facing injury from unfair trade practices by Canada. Today the ITC disagreed with those allegations and eliminated the duties, ruling that U.S. newsprint producers were not materially harmed by imports from Canada. In contrast, the increase in newsprint costs resulting from the DOC imposed duties was harming printers, publishers, newspapers, technology suppliers and ultimately consumers in the value chain. Local papers scaled back reporting and reduce the number of editions they publish, and advertising inserts, often used by small businesses, were repressed. Fortunately, these artificially inflicted distortions to the marketplace are now removed.

APTech commends the successful collaborative efforts of the broad and diverse STOPP coalition that pursued all available avenues to enlist the public and their elected representatives in Congress to speak out against the duties. Their voices were heard.

For more information contact Vice President, Government Affairs, Mark J. Nuzzaco at phone: 703/264-7235, or e-mail: [email protected].