Washington, DC –
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) for its unanimous vote to pursue its investigation into Chinese and Indonesian dumping of certain coated paper products into the U.S. Such practices are threatening the future of American paper manufacturers, including NewPage Corporation in Luke, Maryland.

“We are part of a global economy that is built on a foundation of free trade, but the outright dumping of paper, subsidized by Chinese and Indonesian governments, is not free or fair trade. The ITC made the right decision in pursuing their investigation. The surge in paper imports is troubling and only significant consequences will help deter such behavior.”

Earlier this month, Senator Cardin sent a letter to the ITC in support of the NewPage Corporation’s petition. The company employs nearly 1000 workers at its Maryland mill.
 

“NewPage contributes significantly to the economic health of Garrett and Allegany counties. We cannot allow these unfair trade practices to go unchallenged, risking this company and the good-paying jobs that have provided stability and viability to this region for generations.”