Appleton Endorses Commerce Department’s Decision to Investigate Unfair Trade Practices by Foreign Producers of Lightweight Thermal Paper

APPLETON, Wis., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Department of Commerce has determined that there is sufficient evidence to merit investigating Appleton’s allegations that lightweight thermal paper products imported from China, Germany, and Korea are being wrongfully dumped in the United States. Appleton also alleges that the Chinese government is wrongfully subsidizing the Chinese lightweight thermal paper industry. The company filed petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission on September 19 alleging the wrongful dumping and subsidies.

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“We asked the appropriate government agencies to examine certain trade practices that we view to be anti-competitive,” said Mark Richards, Appleton’s chief executive officer. “We are pleased that they confirmed our observations of the lightweight thermal paper market. We believe the decisions today are an important step in restoring a level playing field on which to compete.”

Appleton’s allegations focus on lightweight thermal paper products, typically used for point-of-sale retail receipts and coupons, sold into the United States by manufacturers and converters based in China, Germany, and Korea. Appleton is asking the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission to impose offsetting duties on lightweight thermal paper products imported from those countries.

Dumping occurs when a foreign producer sells goods in the United States at prices below those at which it sells in the country of origin or at prices lower than the cost of production. When a foreign government subsidizes goods by providing financial assistance to benefit the production or exportation of goods, such assistance may result in unfair trade practices. If the United States government finds that such dumping or subsidies exist, and the domestic market is materially injured as a result, or there is a threat of such injury, it will impose import duties to offset the unfair advantage.

The U.S. International Trade Commission is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations on or about November 23.

About Appleton

Appleton creates product solutions through development and use of coating formulations and applications, encapsulation technology and secure and specialized print services. Appleton is the leading North American producer of thermal paper products, a technology the company helped commercially introduce in the late 1960s. The company also produces carbonless, security and performance packaging products. Appleton is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, and has manufacturing operations in Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and the United Kingdom, employs approximately 3,200 people and is 100 percent employee owned. For more information visit http://www.appletonideas.com/

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Source: Appleton