SCHUMER ANNOUNCES: FOLLOWING HIS ALL-OUT PUSH, THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION HAS VOTED TO REMOVE TARIFFS ON CANADIAN GROUNDWOOD PAPER IMPORTS; SENATOR CALLS DECISION A MAJOR VICTORY FOR AMERICAN JOBS AND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS EVERYWHERE
At Behest Of One Investment Firm, The Department Of Commerce Initially Imposed Tariffs On Candian Groundwood Paper Imports In January Of This Year, Which Hammered Already-Financially-Struggling Newspapers; This July, After Marginally Lowering The Rate Of The Tariffs, The Department Of Commerce Finalized Them
After Schumer’s Months-Long Push, Today, The ITC Unanimously Voted To Strike The Tariffs Down
Schumer: These Tariffs Were Unjustified And Counterproductive For Newspapers And Jobs – The International Trade Commission Made The Exactly Right Decision
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that, following his months-long push, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to strike down tariffs imposed by the United States Department of Commerce on groundwood paper imports from Canada. Schumer said that this decision is a major victory for community newspapers across Upstate New York, as the rate they pay for paper used to print will be significantly reduced. Schumer praised the ITC for their determination, saying that it will allow local newspapers to continue contributing to vibrant communities and protecting healthy democracy in Upstate New York and across the United States. The collection of tariffs will end and cash deposits paid on these tariffs will be returned.
“These tariffs were extremely harmful to our regional newspapers – the lifeblood of our local communities – and I worked hard to remove them,” said Senator Schumer. “The International Trade Commission made the exactly right decision today to completely eliminate them. I will remain vigilant to make sure that they never return.”
Schumer explained groundwood paper imports from Canada are primarily used as newsprint, but also as retail inserts by producers in New York. There are 721 newspapers in New York with a print readership of more than 15 million. Schumer said constituents expressed concerns that assessed duties could have a particularly adverse impact in the Northeast Region, which is why he fought so hard against the unwise and unjust tariffs.
Schumer first launched his effort to push back against the administration’s paper tariffs in January of this year, when he sounded the alarm and said that the tariffs had the potential to force local newspapers to drastically slash their staffs. Schumer renewed his effort last month, during a trip to Quad Graphics, in Saratoga, N.Y., where he gave specific statistics on how the tariffs would cost Quad Graphics and their customers $90 million annually, and called Commerce Secretary Ross urging him to reverse course. Schumer also called Speaker Ryan, urging him to weigh in with Ross about the impact on Quad Graphics, which has a presence in NY and Ryan’s district in WI. Ryan then connected with Ross to express his concerns. Pressure from Senator Schumer and other leaders helped push the Department of Commerce to reduce the final duties by around 10% on average from nearly 20% on average, as after their investigations, the Department of Commerce chose not to apply what is called an “all-others antidumping rate.” Earlier this August, Schumer wrote to the ITC urging them to consider the negative impacts that permanent duties would have on the groundwood paper value chain.
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