Canada Groundwood Paper: New AD/CVD Investigations Deadlines & Scope
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on uncoated groundwood paper from Canada (A-122-861/C-122-862). The agency will determine whether imports of Canadian groundwood paper are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value or are illegally subsidized. The CV duty investigation covers entries Jan. 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2016. The AD duty investigation covers entries July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017.
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The International Trade Commission will conduct a concurrent investigation to determine whether imports of dumped and illegally subsidized uncoated groundwood paper from Canada are injuring U.S. industry. If the ITC finds no injury in its preliminary injury determination, the investigations will immediately end. If Commerce finds dumping or illegal subsidization in the preliminary determinations of these investigations, it will set AD and/or CV duty cash deposit requirements for imports of merchandise subject to the investigation. If both Commerce and the ITC reach affirmative final determinations, Commerce will issue an AD and/or CV duty order making duties permanent and beginning a process of annual administrative reviews to set final assessments of AD/CV duties on importers and potentially change AD/CV duty cash deposit rates.
AD/CVD Respondent Selection
Commerce said it will pick respondents to be individually investigated in its AD/CV investigations based on CBP import data. The agency intends to complete respondent selection by Sept. 21.
Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations
The merchandise covered by this investigation 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, including groundwood pulp made from recycled paper, weighing not more than 90 grams per square meter. Groundwood pulp includes all forms of pulp produced from a mechanical pulping process, such as thermo-mechanical process (TMP), chemi-thermo mechanical process (CTMP), bleached chemi-thermo mechanical process (BCTMP) or any other mechanical pulping process. The scope includes paper shipped in any form, including but not limited to 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 certain uncoated groundwood 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, 4802.61.3110, 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. Subject merchandise may also be imported under several additional subheadings, including 4805.91.5000, 4805.91.7000 and 4805.91.9000. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.
Participants in the AD/CVD investigations may submit comments on product coverage under the scope of the investigations. Comments on the scope are due by Sept. 18
Investigations Timetable
| Event | AD Duty | CV Duty |
|---|---|---|
| Petitions filed | 08/09/17 | 08/09/17 |
| DOC initiation date | 08/29/17 | 08/29/17 |
| ITC prelim determinations* | 09/25/17 | 09/25/17 |
| DOC prelim determinations† | 01/16/18 | 11/02/17 |
| DOC final determinations† | 04/02/18 | 01/16/18 |
| ITC final determinations‡ | 05/17/18 | 03/02/18 |
| Issuance of orders+ | 05/24/18 | 03/09/18 |
*If the ITC makes a negative determination of injury, the investigations are terminated.
†These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.
‡This will take place only in the event of Commerce Department final affirmative determinations.
+This will take place only in the event of Commerce and ITC final affirmative determinations.
The AD duty initiation notice is (here).
The CV duty initiation notice is (here).
The Commerce Department fact sheet on the initiation of these investigations is (here).
(Federal Register 09/01/17)