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Petition Filed for New AD/CV Duties on Uncoated Groundwood Paper From Canada

North Pacific Paper Company filed a petition with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on uncoated groundwood paper from Canada. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CV duty orders and the assessment of AD and CV duties on importers.

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Proposed Scope

The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:

The merchandise covered by this petition includes certain paper that has not been coated on either side and with 50 percent or more of the cellulose fiber content consisting of groundwood pulp, or deinked pulp made from recycled ONP (old newspapers), weighing not more than 90 grams per square meter. Groundwood pulp includes all forms of pulp produced from a mechanical process, such as thermo-mechanical process ("TMP"), chemi-thermo mechanical process ("CTMP"), or bleached chemi-thermo mechanical process ("BCTMP") or any other process other than the bleached Kraft process. The scope includes paper shipped in any form, including both rolls and sheets.

Certain uncoated groundwood paper includes but is not limited to standard newsprint, high bright newsprint, book publishing, directory, and printing and writing papers. The scope includes paper that is white, off-white, cream or colored.

Specifically excluded from the scope are imports of paper printed with final content of printed text or graphic. Also excluded are papers that otherwise meet this definition, but which have undergone a supercalendering process.

Certain uncoated groundwood paper is classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States ("HTSUS") in several subheadings, including 4801.00.0120, 4801.00.0140, 4802.61.1000, 4802.61.2000, 4802.61.3010, 4802.61.3110, 4802.61.3191, 4802.61.6040, 4802.62.1000, 4802.62.2000, 4802.62.3000, 4802.62.6140, 4802.69.1000, 4802.69.2000 and 4802.69.3000. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.

Commerce Accepting Comments on Petition Support

The Commerce Department is accepting comments on domestic industry support for the petitions to determine whether the petitions meet the dual requirements of support by domestic producers or workers accounting for (1) at least 25% of the total production of the domestic-like product and (2) more than 50% of the production of the domestic-like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition. If the petitions meet these requirements, among others, Commerce will initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. Comments are due Aug. 29.

Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.