U.S. Producers of School Paper Supplies File Trade Petitions against Imports from Three Countries

Washington, DC—The Association of American School Paper Suppliers, an ad hoc trade association of U.S. producers of paper school supplies, filed petitions today with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission, alleging that imports of lined paper school supplies from India, Indonesia and the People’s Republic of China are being sold at less than fair value and are causing material injury to the U.S. industry.  The petitions also allege that imports from India and Indonesia are benefiting from government subsidies.  The petitions seek the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties against imports of lined paper school supplies from the three countries to counter the material injury and threat of material injury caused by the unfairly traded imports.

The Department of Commerce has 20 days to review the adequacy of the petitions and initiate an investigation.  The International Trade Commission has 45 days to make a preliminary determination of whether the U.S. industry is injured.  If the ITC preliminary determination is affirmative, the Commerce Department investigation will continue, with a preliminary determination on the issue of dumping and subsidies due in approximately three to five months.

The petition covers lined paper school supplies on which notes are taken and includes school notebooks and filler paper.  The antidumping margins alleged in the petition range from 207 to 319 percent for China, 157 to 208 percent for India, and 103 to 177 percent for Indonesia.  In addition, the petition alleges substantial countervailing duty margins against India and Indonesia.  If these margins are confirmed by the U.S. government, duties equal to the amount of dumping and subsidization will be imposed on the imports at the time of importation. 

The Association of American School Paper Suppliers includes the following domestic producers:  MeadWestvaco Consumer and Office Products Division of MeadWestvaco Corporation, Norcom, Inc., and Top Flight, Inc.  Association members have facilities in numerous U.S. locations, including California, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.