A vote this week by the U.S. International Trade Commission on paper imports will have a direct impact on the Domtar Corp. paper mill in Johnsonburg.
In a prepared statement released Thursday, Domtar Corp. officials said they are happy that the International Trade Commission reached an unanimous affirmative final determination that imports of certain uncoated paper from Australia, Brazil, China, Indonesia and Portugal have materially injured the U.S. industry.
The case was brought against those countries in the wake of countries being responsible for exporting unfairly priced paper, which led to job losses and plant closures across the United States.
As a result, countervailing duty orders are being placed on imports from China and Indonesia and antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from Australia, Brazil, China, Indonesia and Portugal.
On Feb. 22, the International Trade Commission is expected to formally notify the U.S. Department of Commerce of its final determination, and in turn, that department will then issue its final antidumping and countervailing orders in March, which will constitute the final step in this investigation.
“We are pleased that the evidence compiled by both the ITC and Commerce over the course of this investigation has confirmed the petitioners’ claims of injury to the U.S. industry, as well as dumping and countervailable subsidization of uncoated paper by the countries cited,” Domar officials said. “We greatly appreciate the ITC and U.S. Department of Commerce’s thorough analyses. Our hope is that the affirmative final determinations issued by the ITC and Commerce will help level the playing field, and mitigate the illegal trade practices that have put U.S. paper manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage and threatened tens of thousands of American jobs in the paper industry.”
U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., also chimed in on the recent decision.
“Pennsylvania, and especially the Commonwealth’s 5th Congressional District, is well-known for its high-value timber and forest products industry,” Thompson said. “As for the Domtar paper mill in Johnsonburg and the company’s other local operations, they have provided family-supporting jobs for residents over the course of generations.”
Between the paper mill in Johnsonburg and a paper sheeting/converting operation in Clearfield County, the company employs 485 people in Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District, which is Thompson’s jurisdiction.
“Early this year, I wrote to the U.S. International Trade Commission, speaking out against these unfair practices and asking that they level the playing field for our domestic paper producers,” Thompson said. “I am very happy with today’s decision, which I believe will help ensure that plants like Johnsonburg’s provide careers for years to come.”
