Investigation on Newsprint Antidumping Moves Forward

On September 22, the International Trade Commission (ITC) voted unanimously (4-0) to continue with the antidumping investigation brought on by a petition from the North Pacific Paper Company (Norpac). In its petition, Norpac claimed that Canadian manufacturers of ground wood paper received subsidies from the Canadian government that allowed for below-market pricing of imported newsprint, which caused harm to domestic producers. Norpac was the only U.S. mill to file the petition.

The decision to move forward was expected, as only 10 percent of these types of petitions are denied by the ITC in the preliminary phase. We expect to receive the ITC’s rationale for moving forward when it releases its public report on the decision early next week.

The ITC and the Department of Commerce will now move forward with separate investigations that will occur simultaneously in spring 2018. The ITC will examine the claim from the petitioner that it has been injured by dumping from Canadian manufacturers (rather than being negatively impacted by other market factors). The Department of Commerce’s investigation will examine whether dumping of newsprint from Canada actually occurred.

A final decision on this case is expected in summer or fall of 2018.  In the months ahead, the Alliance will work vigorously to fight this case. This case and others related to Canadian imports of lumbar and paper likely will be a topic for US – Canada negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). We will provide regular updates to the membership as this issue moves forward. For more information, please contact Senior VP, Public Policy, Paul Boyle at paul@newsmediaalliance.org or 571-366-1150.