US launches trade probes against China, among others

The U.S. Commerce Department announced on Wednesday that it had initiated anti-dumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations against imports of certain uncoated paper from China, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia and Portugal.

The investigations are in response to a complaint from Domtar Corporation, Finch Paper LLC, Packaging Corporation of America, and P.H. Glatfelter Company which alleged that papers from China, Australia, Brazil Indonesia and Portugal were sold below the fair value of the products in the U.S. market. The company also claimed that exporters from China and Indonesia also received improper government subsidies.

Uncoated paper is typically used for office copy and printer paper, books, business forms, instruction manuals, inserts, flyers, brochures and maps.

The International Trade Commission (ITC), the U.S. trade authority, was scheduled to make its preliminary inquiry determinations on AD and CVD around March 9.

The probes will continue if the ITC determines that the imports of such products materially injure or threaten the domestic industry of the United States. The Commerce Department will then make its preliminary determinations of CVD in April, and AD in June.

Imports of these products from China were estimated at about 32 million U.S. dollars in 2013, according to U.S. official data.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has kept urging Washington to abide by its commitment against protectionism and help maintain a free, open and just international trade environment.