Global Geopolitical Series: U.S. slaps duties on ground wood paper from Canada

Yesterday, the U.S. Commerce Department concluded its final investigations into imports of uncoated groundwood paper from Canada and it has found that one exporter from Canada is selling the above-mentioned product in the United States at 16.88 percent less than fair value. In addition, the Department of Commerce found that Canada is providing countervailable subsidies to producers of uncoated groundwood paper ranging from 0.82-9.81 percent. As a result of the findings, the commerce department has asked the U.S. customs and border patrol (CBP) agency to collect cash deposits from importers of the item based on these final rates.

The investigation was initiated based on a petition filed by North Pacific Paper Company (WA).

According to the department’s calculations, the imports of groundwood paper from Canada were valued at an estimated $1.21 billion in 2017.

Under President Trump, the U.S. Commerce Department has significantly stepped up its investigations into foreign malpractices in trade and the number of investigations initiated is 216 percent more than the previous administration.