Unanimous decision sees U.S. manufacturers harmed by subsidized imports
    The U.S. will impose dumping and anti-subsidy duties on glossy paper from Indonesia and China after the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled Friday domestic makers may be harmed by low-cost imports.
    The panel’s 6-0 vote is the final step needed to set tariffs valued at $260 million on imports of the paper, which is used to print magazines and art books.
    NewPage, Appleton Coated and a unit of Sappi sought the duties, citing China’s and Indonesia’s policies of debt forgiveness, cheap power and low-cost access to timber for domestic producers.
    Asia Pulp & Paper, a large exporter of coated paper from China and Indonesia, immediately expressed displeasure with the U.S. International Trade Commission’s decision.
    “We are extremely disappointed in the Commission’s decision,” said Terry Hunley, acting president, APP Americas. “The evidence we presented strongly demonstrated that our imports have not harmed U.S. producers. We believe there are very strong grounds for appeal and we will begin pursuing our appeal options immediately.”
    The dumping duties will reach as much as 135.83 percent for China and 20.13 percent for Indonesia, the Commerce Department said last month. Countervailing duties to offset subsidies will be as much as 17.94 percent for Indonesia and 178.03 percent for China.
    The Commerce Department imposed preliminary duties in April and May. Paper importers have been depositing those duties pending action by the ITC. The panel’s decision sets the stage for the tariff rates to take effect within days.

Source: JOC