Appleton wins round in unfair imports case

APPLETON — The papermaker Appleton Monday applauded a preliminary U.S. Department of Commerce decision to apply the U.S. anti-subsidy law to imports of lightweight thermal paper from China.

The ruling is the first step toward a May 6 determination in a bigger case alleging illegal sale of goods in the United States by China and Germany at prices below those in the country of origin at prices lower than the cost of production, a practice known as dumping.

Appleton filed petitions in September with the department and U.S. International Trade Commission alleging the Chinese government is subsidizing the country's lightweight thermal paper industry.

"We are pleased with the Commerce Department ruling because it confirms our experience in the market place and is a critical step in restoring a level playing field on which we can compete," Mark Richards, chief executive officer, said in a statement.

The decision Monday determined that certain Chinese producers and exporters of lightweight thermal paper received subsidies ranging from 5.7 percent to near nearly 60 percent, with one producer receiving a duty of less than 1 percent.

Appleton said foreign governments subsidize industries when they provide financial or other assistance to benefit the production, manufacture or exportation of goods.

Appleton employs about 1,300 in the Fox Cities and about 3,000 overall.

Posted March 11, 2008

The Post-Crescent

Source: www.postcrescent.com