U.S. hits Canadian forestry industry with more duties
WASHINGTON — The American government hit the Canadian forestry industry with more duties late Tuesday as it upheld countervailing duties on Canadian newsprint.
The United States Department of Commerce said in a statement that a preliminary investigation found Canadian exporters underpriced uncoated groundwood paper by between 0 and 22.16 per cent.
Uncoated groundwood paper includes newsprint, as well as book publishing, printing and writing papers.
“President [Donald] Trump made it clear from the beginning that we will vigorously administer our trade laws to provide U.S. industry with relief from unfair trade practices,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said.
The department said it determined Canadian exporters have sold newsprint in the U.S. at as much as 22.16 per cent less than fair value and that it will collect cash corresponding to those rates.
It noted that the maximum margin of 22.16 per cent is lower than the up to 54.97 per cent rate alleged by Washington-based North Pacific Paper Company, which made the petition to the department to impose the tariffs. It complained Canada was dumping newsprint into the American market and unfairly subsidizing its industry at home.
Canada is the largest exporter of newsprint in the world, with a market dominated by Resolute Forest Products, Kruger and Catalyst Paper Corp. of B.C.
The department calculated a dumping rate of 22.16 per cent for Catalyst Paper Corp., and all other producers excluding Resolute Forest Products and White Birch, which were both found to have dumping rates of zero per cent.
The department’s investigation into the alleged dumping began in August 2017, and an International Trade Commission investigation began the following month. It said a final determination in the investigation will be made in August.
It’s the second time the Trump administration has slapped duties on the Canadian forestry industry in recent months.
In December, the U.S. International Trade Commission upheld tariffs on softwood lumber after it determined lumber imported from Canada is subsidized and injures the U.S. industry.
Canada filed a complaint to the World Trade Organization in January about the way the U.S. applies punitive tariffs, directly tied to softwood lumber.