Big stake for workers as U.S. investigation begins against China, Indonesia

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC)  began their investigation of the trade case filings by the United Steelworkers (USW) and three domestic companies against coated paper imports from China and Indonesia at a preliminary hearing yesterday.

“We have seen thousands of job losses by multiple plant shutdowns in coated paper manufacturing caused by imports since the period examined in the last petition to enforce fair trade rules against the flood of subsidized imports from Asia,” said Leo W. Gerard, USW international president.

“Imports jumped by 40 percent this year, forcing a mill closure in Michigan on top of previous layoffs at idled plants and paper machines in Maine, Wisconsin and other states.  Sadly, our case is made stronger by these mounting job cuts. If the rule of law between nations mean something, predatory trade practices that steal jobs must be penalized with the power of government enforcement ... more