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News Release 15-031
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-530 (Preliminary)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of supercalendered paper from Canada that are allegedly subsidized by the government of Canada.
Chairman Meredith M. Broadbent, Vice Chairman Dean A. Pinkert, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, David S. Johanson, and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein voted in the affirmative. Commissioner F. Scott Kieff did not participate in this investigation.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigation on imports of this product from Canada, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about May 22, 2015.
The Commission’s public report Supercalendered Paper from Canada (Investigation No. 701-TA-530 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4529, April 2015) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.
The report will be available after May 11, 2015. After that date, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Office of Industries
Washington, DC 20436
FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Supercalendered Paper from Canada
Investigation No. 701-TA-530 (Preliminary)
Product Description: Supercalendered paper is an uncoated printing paper made from mechanical pulp, chemical pulp, fillers, and additives. The finish (surface) of supercalendered paper is produced by the movement of the paper web through a supercalender, a vertical stack of alternating steel rolls and cotton rolls. The rolls apply heat and pressure to the paper, imparting a gloss to the surface and increasing its smoothness and density. Supercalendered paper is used to make a variety of printed materials which require high quality color printing and photographic images, such as magazines, retail inserts, flyers, directories, catalogs, direct mail inserts, corporate brochures, and coupons.
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Preliminary countervailing duty.
2. Petitioners: Coalition for Fair Paper Imports, an ad hoc association of U.S. producers that includes Madison Paper Industries, Inc. and Verso Corp.
3. Commission’s conference: March 19, 2015.
4. USITC vote: April 10, 2015.
5. USITC determination: April 14, 2015.
6. USITC views: April 21, 2015.
U.S. Industry:
1. Number of producers in 2014: Three.
2. Location of producers’ plants: Maine, Minnesota, and South Carolina.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2014: [1]
4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2014: 1
5. Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2014: 1
U.S. Imports:
1. From the subject country during 2014: 1
2. From other countries during 2014: 1
3. Leading sources during 2014: Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Belgium (in terms of total value).
[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.
News Release 14-069
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-456 and 731-TA-1151-1152 (Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC or Commission) has voted to conduct full five-year ("sunset") reviews concerning the countervailing duty order on citric acid and certain citrate salts from China and the antidumping duty orders on citric acid and certain citrate salts from Canada and China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-456 and 731-TA-1151-1152 (Review)).
As a result of these votes, the Commission will conduct full reviews to determine whether revocation of these orders would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Commission's notice of institution in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file with the Commission responses that discuss the likely effects of revoking the order under review and provide other pertinent information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
With respect to imports from Canada, Chairman Meredith M. Broadbent, Vice Chairman Dean A. Pinkert, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, David S. Johanson, F. Scott Kieff, and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein concluded that both the domestic group response and the respondent group response for this review were adequate and voted for a full review.
With respect to imports from China, Chairman Meredith M. Broadbent, Vice Chairman Dean A. Pinkert, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, David S. Johanson, F. Scott Kieff, and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein concluded that the domestic group responses for these reviews were adequate and that the respondent group responses were inadequate, but that circumstances warranted full reviews.
A record of the Commission's votes on these matters is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.
The record of the Commission's votes is also posted on the USITC's Internet site at http://pubapps2.usitc.gov/sunset/caseProf/list?sort=caseTitle&order=asc. From this page, search "citric acid" using the search box in the upper right corner.
The Federal Register notice will indicate whether any further information or statements will be available. The Commission will issue a report after it completes its reviews.
News Release 12-087
Inv. No(s). TA-131-036, TA-2104-028
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking input for newly initiated investigations into the probable economic effect of a U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) with members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), including Canada and Mexico.
The investigations, U.S.-Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement Including Canada and Mexico: Advice on the Probable Economic Effect of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports, were requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received July 19, 2012.
In the request letter, the USTR stated that Canada and Mexico have joined TPP negotiations and asked the USITC to provide advice concerning the probable economic effect of a U.S. free trade agreement with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.
For the current report, the USTR asked that the USITC, among other things, identify any changes in its advice from the earlier advice that did not include Canada and Mexico. The USITC has previously provided advice to the USTR concerning the probable economic effect of providing duty-free treatment for imports of products from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam, plus Malaysia, under a TPP FTA (those reports remain classified by the USTR).
As requested, the USITC will advise the President as to the probable economic effect of providing duty-free treatment for imports of products of the ten TPP members on industries in the United States producing like or directly competitive articles and on consumers. In preparing its advice, the ITC will consider each article in chapters 1 through 97 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States for which tariffs will remain, taking into account implementation of U.S. commitments in the World Trade Organization and under U.S. free trade agreements that the United States has with a TPP country. The advice will be based on the 2011 Harmonized Tariff Schedule nomenclature and trade data for the year 2011. The advice will assume that any known U.S. non-tariff barrier will not be applicable to such imports, and the USITC will note in its report any instance in which the continued application of a U.S. non-tariff barrier would result in different advice with respect to the effect of the removal of the duty.
In addition, as requested by the USTR, the USITC will prepare an assessment of the probable economic effect of eliminating tariffs on imports of certain agricultural products of the TPP members on U.S. industries producing the product concerned and the economy as a whole. A list of the products is attached to the USTR's request letter, which can be obtained from the USITC's web site and its electronic document information system (EDIS).
The USITC expects to submit its report, which will be confidential, to the USTR by November 19, 2012.
The USITC is seeking input for these investigations from all interested parties and requests that the information focus on the issues for which the USITC is requested to provide information and advice.
The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigations on September 12, 2012. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on August 30, 2012, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. For further information, call 202-205-2000.
The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on September 19, 2012. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.
Further information on the scope of the investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the USITC's notice of investigation, dated August 6, 2012, which can be downloaded from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address or at 202-205-2000.
News Release 13-033
Inv. No(s). TA-103-027
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking input on a newly initiated investigation concerning proposed modifications of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rules of origin.
The investigation, Probable Economic Effect of Certain Modifications to the North American Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter dated March 11, 2013.
As requested by the USTR, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will provide advice on the probable economic effect of the proposed NAFTA rules of origin modifications on U.S. trade and on domestic producers of the affected articles.
The investigation covers a wide variety of articles, including miscellaneous edible preparations; mineral fuels; products of the chemical or allied industries; plastics; rubber and related articles; cork; glass and glassware; copper, nickel, lead, tin, zinc, and other base metals; nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, mechanical appliances, and related parts; electrical machinery and related parts; rail locomotives and parts; parts for trailers and semi-trailers; optical, medical, measuring, or checking instruments and apparatus; certain furniture; certain toys and games; lighters; and smoking pipes. Details can be obtained from the attachment to the request letter, which can be found on the USITC Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/What_We_Are_Working_On.htm.
The USITC expects to submit its advice to the USTR by November 12, 2013.
The USITC is seeking input for its new investigation from all interested parties and requests that the information focus on the articles for which the USITC is requested to provide information and advice. The USITC will not hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation; however, the USITC welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436 and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on June 4, 2013.
Further information on the scope of this investigation, the proposed rules of origin modifications, and the procedures for written submissions is available in the USITC's notice of investigation, dated April 28, 2013, which can be downloaded from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Secretary at the above address.
USITC general factfinding investigations, such as these, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subject investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigations reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.