Brown and Portman Urge International Trade Commission to Stand Up for Ohio Paper Workers Against Fraudulent Foreign Competitors

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) called on the International Trade Commission (ITC) to protect United Steelworkers at Ohio paper mills like Glatfelter in Chillicothe and Mohawk Fine Papers in Hamilton. In a letter, the senators expressed strong support of the ITC’s preliminary phase investigations that found evidence that the imports in question are dumped at significant margins and that imports from China and other countries benefit from a wide array of government subsidies.

“The domestic uncoated paper industry and its workers are in dire need of relief from these dumped and subsidized imports,” the senators wrote. “We ask that you thoroughly and objectively review the facts in this case and help ensure that American businesses and workers are able to compete on a level playing field.”

This letter follows up on the senators’ efforts last year to help other Ohio paper workers facing threats. Full text of the letter can be found below and here.

The Honorable Meredith Broadbent

Chairwoman

U.S. International Trade Commission

500 E Street, SW

Washington, DC 20436

Dear Chairwoman Broadbent:

We write in strong support of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC)’s preliminary phase investigations of imports of uncoated paper from Australia, Brazil, China, Indonesia, and Portugal. The petitioners in this case representing the domestic paper industry have provided evidence that the imports in question are dumped at significant margins and that imports from China and Indonesia in particular benefit from a wide array of government subsidies. We note that the U.S. Department of Commerce has initiated its own investigations into uncoated paper from these countries.

The domestic uncoated paper industry and its workers are in dire need of relief from these dumped and subsidized imports.  Despite a declining market, imports jumped by 43.9 percent from 2011 to 2013 and another 40.4 percent in just the first nine months of 2014.  From 2011 to the first three quarters of 2014, imports more than doubled their share of the U.S. market, at the direct expense of U.S. producers. In all, 15 uncoated paper machines at eight mills across the country have shut down since 2011, eliminating nearly 2,500 jobs.

Subject imports have been able to seize tonnage from domestic producers through aggressive underselling and price depression.  Average import unit values dropped by $90 per ton from 2011 to 2013 and another $16 per ton in interim 2014.  Underselling has increased in intensity as import volumes have grown.

The result is a domestic industry that has rapidly lost capacity, production, shipments, market share, employment, and profitability to imports since 2011.  The pace of mill and paper machine closures has accelerated as imports have grown.  These closures are devastating not only for the companies and workers directly involved, but for thousands of families, small businesses, and local and state governments that rely on paper mills for their livelihoods and economic survival.

We ask that you thoroughly and objectively review the facts in this case and help ensure that American businesses and workers are able to compete on a level playing field. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

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