U.S. International Trade Commission

October 4, 2017
News Release 17-141
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-683 (Fourth Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on imports of fresh garlic from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, the existing antidumping duty order on imports of this product from China will remain in place.

Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the affirmative.

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.  See the attached page for background on this five-year (sunset) review.

The Commission’s public report Fresh Garlic from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-683 (Fourth Review), USITC Publication 4735, October 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the review.

The report will be available by November 9, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

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BACKGROUND

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 institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other 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.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews.  Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) review concerning Fresh Garlic from China was instituted on April 3, 2017.

On July 7, 2017, the Commission voted to conduct an expedited review.  Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent concluded that the domestic group response for this review was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for an expedited review.  Vice Chairman David S. Johanson concluded that the domestic group response for this review was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for a full review.

A record of the Commission’s votes to conduct an expedited review 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.

September 29, 2017
News Release 17-139
Inv. No(s). 332-345
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade, 2016 is now available on the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) web site.

The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan federal agency, is providing data only in the 2016 edition of its annual interactive, web-based report. 

This year’s report provides trade data for 10 sectors, as well as data reflecting changes in U.S. bilateral trade with eight partners and/or regions, including Canada, Mexico, and the North American Free Trade Agreement area as a whole; China; the European Union, Asia, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and sub-Saharan Africa.

Among the 10 sectors covered in the report, the USITC found:

• U.S. total exports fell in 2016 by $50.0 billion (3.5 percent) from $1,413.8 billion in 2015.
• U.S. general imports decreased in 2016 by $60.8 billion (3.0 percent) to $1,978.2 billion.
• With the exception of agriculture, exports of all sectors declined in 2016.
• With the exception of agriculture, forest products, and electronics, imports of all sectors declined in 2016.

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2016 can be accessed at https://www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/trade_shifts_2016/index.htm.

September 29, 2017
News Release 17-140
Inv. No(s). 332-227
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The overall effect of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) on the U.S. economy and U.S. consumers continues to be negligible, while the effect on beneficiary countries is small but positive, reports the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in its publication Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act: Impact on U.S. Industries and Consumers and on Beneficiary Countries, Twenty-third Report, 2015-16.

The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, recently issued its 23rd in a series of biennial reports monitoring imports under CBERA. The CBERA program, operative since January 1, 1984, affords preferential tariff treatment to most products of the 17 designated Caribbean countries that received CBERA benefits during the period covered in the report.

The USITC report covers the impact of CBERA, as modified by the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act of 2000 (CBTPA), and the HOPE and HELP Acts, on the United States, with particular emphasis on calendar year 2016. CBERA requires the USITC to prepare a biennial report assessing both the actual and the probable future effect of CBERA on the U.S. economy generally, on U.S. industries, and on U.S. consumers. The report also covers the impact of the preference program on the beneficiary countries. Following are highlights of the 2015-16 report.

• The overall effect of CBERA-exclusive imports (imports that could receive tariff preferences only under CBERA provisions) on the U.S. economy generally and on U.S. industries and consumers continued to be negligible in 2016. The USITC identified one U.S. industry – methanol -- that might have faced negative effects due to competition from CBERA-exclusive imports.
• Imports receiving preferential treatment under CBERA totaled $875.5 million in 2016, a decline of 43.2 percent from $1.5 billion in 2015. The decline was driven primarily by declining imports of energy products, specifically crude petroleum and methanol, from Trinidad and Tobago. Energy products accounted for 39.3 percent of total imports under CBERA in 2016, with Trinidad and Tobago supplying 99.9 percent of energy imports. U.S. imports under CBERA of agricultural products and "other mining and manufacturing products" also declined, but U.S. imports of textiles and apparel increased if imports under the HOPE and HELP Acts are taken into account. Textiles and apparel, supplied mainly by Haiti (not including imports under HOPE/HELP), accounted for 34.9 percent of imports under CBERA in 2016; agricultural products, 14.4 percent; and “other mining and manufacturing products,” 11.4 percent.
• CBERA has encouraged several beneficiary countries to develop niche exports to the United States, including polystyrene from The Bahamas, fruits and fruit juices from Belize, and electronic products from St. Kitts and Nevis.
• The report found that investment for the near-term production and export of CBERA-eligible products is not likely to result in imports that would have a measurable economic impact on the U.S. economy generally and on U.S. producers.
• Exporting CBERA-eligible goods is a challenge for many CBERA beneficiaries because of supply-side constraints, including inadequate infrastructure and an increasing focus on the export of services. However, special CBERA provisions for Haiti have had a strong, positive effect on export earnings and job creation in Haiti's apparel sector.

Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act: Impact on U.S. Industries and Consumers and on Beneficiary Countries, Twenty-third Report, 2015-16 (Inv. No. 332-227, USITC Publication 4728, September 2017) is available at https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4728.pdf.

USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, 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, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects 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 requestor. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requestor for national security reasons.

September 29, 2017
News Release 17-138
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-585-586 and 731-TA-1383-1384 (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 stainless steel flanges from China and India that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent 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 these products from China and India, with its preliminary countervailing duty determinations due on or about November 9, 2017, and its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about January 23, 2018.

The Commission’s public report Stainless Steel Flanges from China and India (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-585-586 and 731-TA-1383-1384 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4734, October 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after October 31, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Stainless Steel Flanges from China and India
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-585-586 and 731-TA-1383-1384 (Preliminary)

Product Description: The stainless steel flanges subject to these investigations are forged and can be finished, semifinished, or unfinished. Subject flanges are made from stainless steel and are generally manufactured to, but not limited to, the material specification of ASTM/ASME A/SA182 or comparable domestic or foreign specifications. Subject stainless steel flanges meet the sizes and description standards for all pressure classes of ASME B16.5 and range in size from one-half inch to 24 inches in nominal pipe size. Stainless steel flanges are used to connect together stainless steel pipe sections and piping components (valves, pumps, tanks, and other equipment) to form a piping system. Stainless steel flanges are usually welded or screwed to the ends of pipes or other equipment requiring a connection and are joined to each other by bolting. Forged stainless steel flanges are a component of stainless steel process piping in oil and gas refineries, nuclear power plants, chemical synthesis plants, paper mills, food processing facilities, and other applications where cleanliness and corrosion resistance are required and in power plants where their high-temperature properties are needed.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigations: Preliminary phase antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations.
2.   Petitioners: Core Pipe Products, Inc., Carol Stream, IL; Maass Flange Corporation, Houston, TX.
3.   USITC Institution Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2017.
4.   USITC Conference Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2017.
5.   USITC Vote Date: Friday, September 29, 2017.
6.   USITC Notification to Commerce Date: Monday, October 2, 2017.

U.S. Industry in 2016:

1.   Number of U.S. producers: 3
2.   Location of producers’ plants: Illinois, Michigan, and Texas.
3.   Production and related workers: ^[1]
4.   U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments: ¹
5.   Apparent U.S. consumption: ¹
6.   Ratio of the value of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption: ¹

U.S. Imports in 2016:

1.   Subject imports: $51.5 million.
2.   Nonsubject imports: $58.8 million.
3.   Leading import sources: India, China, Germany, Canada, and Japan (in terms of total value).

September 28, 2017
News Release 17-137
Inv. No(s). 332-561
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

Digital technologies are transforming business and international trade, reports the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in its publication Global Digital Trade I: Market Opportunities and Key Foreign Trade Restrictions.

Expansion of the Internet’s network infrastructure has enabled the proliferation of devices, driving up demand for cloud services and data analytics resources, according to the report. These products and services are used by many companies and consumers.  However, despite the huge growth in global digital trade in recent years, some countries have imposed measures that slow or halt the domestic adoption of digital technologies in both digital and traditional industry sectors.

The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, conducted the investigation at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative.

As requested, the USITC report describes recent developments in global trade in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) digital products and services. The report provides information on the market for digital products and services in the United States and key foreign markets, including Brazil, China, the EU, India, Indonesia, and Russia. The report also provides information on global adoption of digital technologies and the importance of data flows. Finally, the report also describes regulatory and policy measures in key foreign markets that may impede digital trade. Developments highlighted in the report include:

• An estimated 49 percent of the global population has a mobile broadband subscription, outpacing fixed broadband growth in the last five years.

• U.S. spending on public cloud services outpaced the rest of the world combined, with nearly $63 billion in spending, significantly larger than the EU ($19 billion), which was the next largest market.

• Global digital content (video games, video, music, and e-publishing) revenue grew to nearly $90 billion in 2016, with video games making up nearly 55 percent of the total.

• Global e-commerce grew to over $ 27.7 trillion in 2016. B2B e-commerce makes up more than 85 percent of the total. China ($767 million) and the United States ($595 million) are the top B2C e-commerce markets.

• Firms in many different industries are adopting digital technologies such as Internet-connected sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles, and advanced data analytics to collect and analyze massive amounts of data to improve their business processes.

• U.S. industry representatives report that many types of regulatory and policy measures potentially impede digital trade, including measures targeting data protection and privacy, data localization, cybersecurity, inadequate intellectual property rights enforcement, censorship, and market access and investment. Overall, the most cited policy measure impeding digital trade was data localization, while content industry representatives reported that ineffective enforcement of intellectual property protections affected them the most.

Global Digital Trade 1: Market Opportunities and Key Foreign Trade Restrictions (Investigation No. 332-561, USITC publication 4716, August 2017) is available on the USITC’s Internet site at https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4716.pdf.

USITC general factfinding investigations 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, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects 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 investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.

September 28, 2017
News Release 17-136
Inv. No(s). 332-503
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

Eight years after its implementation, the Earned Import Allowance Program (EIAP) is not providing enough incentives to significantly boost Dominican apparel exports to the U.S. market, as intended, reports the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in its publication Earned Import Allowance Program: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Program for Certain Apparel from the Dominican Republic; Eighth Annual Review.

The EIAP allows apparel manufacturers in the Dominican Republic who use U.S. fabric to produce certain apparel to earn a credit that can be used to ship eligible apparel made with non-U.S.-produced fabric into the United States duty free. The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, as amended, requires the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, to evaluate annually the effectiveness of the EIAP program and make recommendations for improvements.

The USITC's eighth annual review was submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means and the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance on September 28, 2017.  Highlights of the report follow.

• Of the 12 registered firms, only 5 firms are currently using the program, the same number reported in the sixth and seventh annual reviews.

• In 2016, U.S. imports of woven cotton bottoms from the Dominican Republic fell 57 percent by value to $3.5 million from $8.2 million in 2015 and fell 61 percent by quantity to 745,000 SMEs from 1.9 million SMEs in 2015. U.S. government sources and a user of the program in the Dominican Republic attributed the decline in U.S.  imports under the EIAP to increased imports from Haiti and increased competition from other Western Hemisphere suppliers. Haiti offers lower labor costs and trade preferences under the HOPE/HELP programs that provide more sourcing flexibility and coverage for a wider range of products than the EIAP as well as a tariff preference level (TPL) for woven apparel from Haiti that allows the use of third-country fabric up to a specified level. 

• The recommendations offered during the eighth annual review of the EIAP were virtually the same as those received by the Commission during the previous seventh annual reviews-1) lowering the 2-for-1 ratio of U.S. to foreign fabric to a 1-for-1 ratio; 2) expanding the program coverage to enable other types of fabrics and apparel items to be included in the EIAP; and 3) changing the requirement that dyeing and finishing of eligible fabrics occur in the United States. 

Earned Import Allowance Program: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Program for Certain Apparel from the Dominican Republic; Eighth Annual Review (Inv. No. 332-503, USITC Publication 4730, September 2017) is available on the USITC's Internet site at https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4730.pdf.

USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this, 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.

September 28, 2017
News Release 17-135
Bulletin 17-059
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-313-314, 317, and 379 (Fourth Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on imports of brass sheet and strip from France, Germany, Italy, and Japan would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing antidumping duty orders on imports of these products from France, Germany, Italy, and Japan will remain in place.

Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the affirmative.

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.  See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Brass Sheet and Strip from France, Germany, Italy, and Japan (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-313-314, 317, and 379 (Fourth Review), USITC Publication 4733, October 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by October 31, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

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BACKGROUND

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 institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other 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.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews.  Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Brass Sheet and Strip from France, Germany, Italy, and Japan were instituted on March 1, 2017.

On June 5, 2017, the Commission voted to conduct expedited reviews.  Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent concluded that the domestic group response for these reviews was adequate and the respondent group responses were inadequate and voted for expedited reviews.  Commissioner F. Scott Kieff did not participate.

A record of the Commission’s votes to conduct expedited reviews 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.

September 27, 2017
News Release 17-134
Inv. No(s). 337-TA-1072
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain Wi-Fi enabled electronic devices and components thereof.  The products at issue in the investigation are Wi-Fi enabled televisions (also known as “smart” televisions). 

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Sharp Corporation of Osaka, Japan, and Sharp Electronics Corporation of Montvale, NJ, on August 29, 2017.  The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain Wi-Fi enabled electronic devices and components thereof that infringe patents asserted by the complainants.  The complainants request that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.

The USITC has identified the following as respondents in this investigation:

Hisense Co., Ltd., of Qingdao, China;
Hisense Electric, Co. Ltd. of QingDao, China;
Hisense International (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd. of Hong Kong;
Hisense USA Corporation of Suwanee, GA;
Hisense Electronics Manufacturing Company of America Corporation of Suwanee, GA;
Hisense USA Multimedia R&D Center, Inc., of Suwanee, GA; and
Hisense Inc. of Huntington Beach, CA.

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1072), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case.  The USITC’s Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC’s administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing.  The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission.

The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time.  Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation.  USITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period.

September 22, 2017
News Release 17-133
Inv. No(s). TA-201-075
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

With respect to imports from Korea, Chairman Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman Johanson, and Commissioners Williamson and Broadbent found that imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells (whether or not partially or fully assembled into other products) from Korea are a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof. 

With respect to other FTA countries, Chairman Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman Johanson, and Commissioners Williamson and Broadbent found that imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells (whether or not partially or fully assembled into other products) from Australia, CAFTA-DR countries, Colombia, Jordan, Panama, Peru, and Singapore individually are not a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof. 

These findings will be forwarded to the President as part of the Commission’s report.

The President, not the Commission, will make the final decision concerning whether to provide relief to the U.S. industry and the kind of relief to provide, including with respect to imports from FTA countries. 

A public report concerning the investigation will be available after the Commission submits its findings and recommendations to the President.

September 22, 2017
News Release 17-132
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-584 and 731-TA-1382 (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 certain uncoated groundwood paper from Canada that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent 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 Canada, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about November 2, 2017, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about January 16, 2018.

The Commission’s public report Certain Uncoated Groundwood Paper from Canada (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-584 and 731-TA-1382 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4732, October 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after October 23, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Uncoated Groundwood Paper from Canada
Investigation Nos: 701-TA-584 and 731-TA-1382 (Preliminary)

Product Description:  Uncoated groundwood paper includes certain paper that has not been coated on either side and with 50 percent or more of the cellulose fiber content consisting of groundwood pulp, including groundwood pulp made from recycled paper, weighing not more than 90 grams per square meter. Groundwood pulp includes all forms of pulp produced from a mechanical pulping process, such as thermo-mechanical process, chemi-thermo mechanical process, bleached chemi-thermo mechanical process or any other mechanical pulping process. Uncoated groundwood paper includes but is not limited to standard newsprint, high bright newsprint, book publishing, directory, and printing and writing papers.  Uncoated groundwood paper may be white, off-white, cream, or colored.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Preliminary phase antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations.
2.   Petitioners:  North Pacific Paper Company, Longview, WA.
3.   USITC Institution Date:  Wednesday, August 09, 2017.
4.   USITC Conference Date:  Wednesday, August 30, 2017.
5.   USITC Vote Date:  Friday, September 22, 2017.
6.   USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Monday, September 25, 2017.

U.S. Industry in 2016:

1.   Number of U.S. producers:  5
2.   Location of producers’ plants:  Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.
3.   Production and related workers:  ^[1]
4.   U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  ¹
5.   Apparent U.S. consumption:  ¹
6.   Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  ¹

U.S. Imports in 2016:

1.   Subject imports:  ¹
2.   Nonsubject imports:  ¹
3.   Leading import sources:  Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Germany.