U.S. Commerce Department Decision Sets Duties on Unfair Imports of Lightweight Thermal Paper from China and Germany

Final ruling finds imports are dumped and subsidized - final injury determination pending

APPLETON, Wis., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced final decisions in its antidumping investigation of imports of lightweight thermal paper from China and Germany. The Department affirmed that certain Chinese producers and exporters of lightweight thermal paper sold the product in the United States at prices below fair value and imposed final duties of 19.77% to 115.29% on those products. The Department also affirmed that German producers and exporters of lightweight thermal paper sold that product in the U.S. at prices below fair value and imposed final duties on those imports of 6.5%.

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The Commerce Department also announced its final determination concerning the imposition of countervailing duties on imports of lightweight thermal paper from China. Countervailing duties offset the subsidies that Chinese producers receive from the Chinese government. The Department imposed duties of between 13.17% and 137.25%. Between the countervailing and antidumping duties, Chinese paper faces total tariffs of 32.94% to 252.54%.

"We have reached another milestone in our efforts to level the playing field on which we compete," said Mark Richards, Appleton's chief executive officer. "We appreciate the careful consideration given to our petition by the Department of Commerce and the thorough reviews and audits they conducted to arrive at their final determinations. We are encouraged by these final rulings and await the final decision from the U.S. International Trade Commission regarding injury to the U.S. industry." The U.S. International Trade Commission will conduct a hearing on the case on October 2 and is scheduled to issue its final decision on October 30.

Background

In September 2007, Appleton filed petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission alleging that the Chinese government is subsidizing the Chinese lightweight thermal paper industry. Foreign governments subsidize industries when they provide financial or other assistance to benefit the production, manufacture or exportation of goods. Appleton also alleged in its petitions that lightweight thermal paper products, typically used for point-of-sale retail receipts and coupons, imported from China and Germany are being wrongfully dumped in the United States. Dumping occurs when a foreign producer sells goods in the United States at prices below fair value. Appleton asked the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission to impose offsetting duties on lightweight thermal paper products imported from those countries.

About Appleton

Appleton creates product solutions through its development and use of coating formulations and applications, and encapsulation technology. The Company produces carbonless, thermal, security and performance packaging products. Appleton is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, and has manufacturing operations in Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, employs approximately 2,400 people and is 100 percent employee owned.

SOURCE Appleton