US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has announced the affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation of imports of uncoated groundwood paper from Canada.

The Commerce Department determined that exporters from Canada have sold uncoated groundwood paper in the United States between 0.00 percent and 22.16 percent less than fair value, down from the estimated dumping margins alleged by the petitioner of 23.45 percent to 54.97 percent. The reduction in margins came as a result of the department’s investigation. The petitioner in this case was North Pacific Paper Company.

Foreign companies that price their products in the US market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to antidumping duties.

In 2016, imports of uncoated groundwood paper from Canada were valued at an estimated $1.27 billion.

As a result of this decision, Commerce will instruct US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect cash deposits from importers of uncoated groundwood paper from Canada based on these preliminary rates.

Commerce is scheduled to announce the final determination in this investigation on or about August 2, 2018. If Commerce makes affirmative final determinations of dumping and the US International Trade Commission (ITC) makes a separate affirmative final determination of injury to domestic industry, Commerce will issue an AD order. If Commerce makes a negative final determination of dumping or the ITC makes a negative final determination of injury, the investigation will be terminated and no order will be issued.