WTO Upholds Duties on Imports of Indonesian Coated Paper

Verso Corp., Miamisburg, Ohio, and Sappi North America, Boston, Mass., this week praised the decision of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel, which upheld the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on imports from Indonesia. The decision confirms that the U.S. acted consistently with its WTO obligations when it imposed countervailing duties of 17.93% and antidumping duties of 20.13%. 

The decision means that countervailing duties that were imposed in November 2010 on certain types of coated paper from Indonesia will remain in effect. The U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission determined in 2016 that the market situation warranted the continuation of the duties for an additional five-year period. The paper products covered by the petitions include certain types of coated paper that use sheet-fed presses with a GE brightness rating of 80 or higher and weighing up to 340 grams per square meter. The papers are used in commercial printing to create magazines, books, direct mailing, and corporate collateral.

Michael Weinhold, President of Graphic Papers at Verso Corp., said that "Verso is very pleased with the WTO Panel's decision in DS491, which will help ensure that duties remain in place to counter the dumping and subsidization of Indonesian coated paper. We also want to thank the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, and officials from the International Trade Commission and Department of Commerce, who worked diligently to defend these decisions and ensure strong enforcement of our trade laws." 

Mark Gardner, president and CEO of Sappi North America, added that "we are very happy with the outcome of this dispute. Subsidized imports injure U.S. producers, and it is important to keep the offsetting duties in place."

Parties have 60 days to appeal the ruling to the WTO Appellate Body.