November 6, 2009
News Release 09-091
Inv. Nos. 701-TA-470-471 and 731-TA-1169-1170 (P)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of certain coated paper suitable for high-quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses from China and Indonesia that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on imports of this product from China and Indonesia, with its preliminary countervailing duty determinations due on or about December 17, 2009, and its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about March 2, 2010.

The Commission's public report Certain Coated Paper Suitable for High-Quality Print Graphics Using Sheet-Fed Presses from China and Indonesia (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-470-471 and 731-TA-1169-1170 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4108, November 2009) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after December 8, 2009, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: Certain coated paper and paperboard in sheets suitable for high quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses; coated on one or both sides with kaolin (China or other clay), calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, and/or other inorganic substances; with or without a binder; having a GE brightness level of 80 or higher; weighing not more than 340 grams per square meter; whether gloss grade, satin grade, matte grade, dull grade, or any other grade of finish; whether or not surface-colored, surface-decorated, printed, embossed, or perforated; and irrespective of dimensions. Certain coated paper is typically (but not exclusively) used for printing multi-colored graphics for catalogues, books, magazines, envelopes, labels and wraps, greeting cards, and other commercial printing applications requiring high quality print graphics.

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Type of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty.
2.  Petitioners:  Appleton Coated LLC, NewPage Corporation, Sappi Fine Paper North America,
       and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial
       and Service Workers International Union. 
3.  Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC:  September 23, 2009.
4.  Commission's conference:  October 14, 2009.
5.  USITC vote:  November 6, 2009.
6.  USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  November 9, 2009.
7.  USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  November 17, 2009.


U.S. Industry:

1.  Number of producers in 2008:  Six integrated producers and numerous converters.
2.  Location of producers' plants:  Production volume is concentrated in Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,
       Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
3.  Employment of production and related workers in 2008:  1,814.
4.  Apparent U.S. consumption in 2008:  $1.9 billion.
5.  Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2008:  49.7%.


U.S. Imports:

1.  From the subject countries during 2008:  $317.1 million.
2.  From other countries during 2008:  $650.1 million.