Unfairly traded imports from China injure U.S. tissue paper manufacturers

Mar 09, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. A U.S. government commission responsible for investigating global trading schemes determined that unfairly priced tissue paper imports from China injure the U.S. industry. The affirmative decision of the International Trade Commission (ITC) triggers the imposition of a stiff 112% antidumping duty on subject tissue paper, which is the type generally used as internal wrapping within a box or bag. Earlier economic analysis performed by the Department of Commerce in conjunction with the case determined that the 112% antidumping duty equals the amount of the price discrimination. Antidumping duties - collected by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency when the product arrives in the United States - will be assessed on the tissue paper products from China to eliminate the margin of dumping. ITC final decision culminates a more than year-long investigation into allegations of dumping that was requested by seven U.S. manufacturers of tissue paper and crepe paper products and a national union. In January, the ITC took the final step necessary to impose exceptionally large antidumping duties of 267% on imports of crepe paper from China. In a statement expressing satisfaction with the decision, international trade attorney David A. Hartquist said, "The ITC ruling confirms our contention that the massively dumped Chinese exports were significantly injuring the U.S. tissue paper industry." The list of petitioners follows: Seaman Paper Company of Massachusetts, Inc., Otter River, Massachusetts; Eagle Tissue LLC, South Windsor, Connecticut; Flower City Tissue Mills, Co., Rochester, New York; Garlock Printing & Converting, Inc., Gardner, Massachusetts; Paper Service Limited, Hinsdale, New Hampshire; Putney Paper Co., Putney, Vermont; American Crepe Corporation, Montoursville, Pennsylvania; and the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, Washington, DC. David A. Hartquist serves as lead counsel to the petitioners. He heads the International Trade and Customs practice of the Washington, D.C. law firm Collier Shannon Scott, PLLC.