With Coated Paper Workers in Hamilton, Brown Praises Unanimous ITC Vote in Support of Relief Against Unfair Chinese and Indonesia Imports

HAMILTON, OHIO – Alongside workers at SMART Papers in Hamilton, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) praised the unanimous vote by the International Trade Commission (ITC) to apply duties on Chinese coated paper imports. Following the announcement, Brown released this statement:

 “American producers face an inexcusable flood of dumped Chinese paper – subsidized from 10 to 15 percent of product cost. For U.S. industries and workers like the workers at SMART Paper who play by the rules, this is simply outside the realm of normal business practice and puts American workers and manufacturers at a disadvantage.  

 “There are various subsidies the Chinese government provides coated paper producers, on top of an undervalued currency that provides at least a 40 percent discount on Chinese goods. While currency manipulation was not part of this coated paper subsidy case, it should be in future trade remedy cases.

 “For generations, our world-class workforce has produced paper with state-of-the-art equipment to customers across the U.S. Without heavy subsidies from the Chinese government – and without sanctioned dumping practices – it is not economically feasible for Chinese companies to compete with U.S. companies by such large margins. Such unbalanced and unfair trade practices translate not only into jobs lost in the coated paper industry, but also in the communities that support them.

 “That’s why today’s decision is so important – it shows why rigorous trade law enforcement is critical to the economic security of our workers and viability of domestic manufacturing. It shows how strong trade enforcement can save and create jobs here in Hamilton. If we cannot deal with predatory market behavior then we have no chance to rebuild manufacturing and our economy. Trade enforcement is vital to the global competiveness of our businesses, manufacturers, and workers.”

 During today’s visit Brown discussed implications of the ITC ruling and the impact on the U.S. coated paper industry. Brown addressed workers and toured the facility at SMART Papers in Hamilton.

 At a White House meeting last month, Brown urged the Obama Administration to take a stand against unfair and illegal trade practices that undermine American exporters and manufacturers, like the coated paper industry. Brown, chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Economic Policy, is one of three Senate Democrats on the President’s Export Council.

 Brown recently submitted testimony to an International Trade Commission hearing held to determine whether coated paper imports from China and Indonesia are adversely impacting American suppliers of the same products.

###