Franken Lauds USITC Vote Recognizing Unfair Trade Practices by China, Indonesia that Threaten MN Coated Paper Industry
Today, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) lauded the United States International Trade Commission's (USITC) vote that determined that China and Indonesia have been unfairly subsidizing and dumping their coated paper imports into the U.S, which has seriously threatened Minnesota's coated paper industry. Sen. Franken testified before the ITC earlier this year on behalf of Minnesota's coated paper workers and manufacturers, who he said have been hurt by China and Indonesia's practices.
"I strongly believe that Minnesota's businesses can compete with those anywhere else in the world if there's a level playing field, and I'm pleased that the USITC recognizes that China and Indonesia aren't playing fairly," said Sen. Franken. "Unfairly traded imports from China and Indonesia threaten Minnesota's coated paper industry, and the USITC took a huge step forward today in ensuring fair competition."
Sen. Franken's September testimony before the ITC can be found here.
Imports from China and Indonesia have negatively affected two U.S. producers of coated paper with operations in Minnesota-NewPage Corporation and Sappi Fine Paper North America (SFPNA)-and both have already been forced to shut down paper mills in other states.
NewPage and SFPNA, in conjuncture with Appleton Coated LLC and the United Steelworkers (USW), filed unfair trade cases with the USITC and the Department of Commerce (DOC) in September 2009.
