Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga., USA, will lay off up to 300 workers at its Camas, Washington, USA, paper mill beginning in the second quarter of 2018. The company plans to permanently cease production of paper used in printers and copiers, as well as pulping operations. It will continue tissue paper production at the mill.

The Camas paper mill has been a cornerstone of the local economy since 1885, employing as many as 2,400 workers in the 1980s. After the partial closure in second quarter of 2018, just 120 to 140 jobs will remain.

"This is a sad day for Camas and southwest Washington. The paper mill is what built Camas," said Washington Representative Liz Pike, who represents Camas. "For generations, the mill has provided a steady paycheck for mortgage payments, car payments, putting food on the table, raising children, and creating a stable economy for a better life in our region."

The company blamed the shutdown on declining demand for paper. However, labor leaders blame the closure not on a decline in demand, but on cheap imports from Asian countries.