Senators Collins, King Statement In Response To ITA Preliminary Determination In Canadian Paper Producers Trade Case

     WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement in response to the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) preliminary determination in the Canadian paper producers trade case:

     “We are troubled by the extensive and unfair subsidies from the Government of Nova Scotia to the Port Hawkesbury Paper mill, which makes it impossible for American mills, including Madison Paper Industries in Maine, to compete on a level playing field. The International Trade Administration’s (ITA) preliminary decision verifying this unfair Canadian subsidy is an important step toward protecting Maine workers at the Madison mill and is the right decision. By contrast, we are extremely disappointed that the ITA would apply other tariffs that could hurt Maine workers employed in the forest products industry by J.D. Irving and at the Catalyst-owned mill in Rumford. The ITA has repeatedly refused to determine the actual subsidies, if any, from the Canadian or provincial governments to J.D. Irving and Catalyst Paper, instead using an arbitrary and unfair figure to devise a tariff that could end up hurting Maine workers. Together, both companies employ more than 1,000 Mainers and will be assigned a duty rate that is largely based upon the massive Port Hawkesbury subsidies rather than a careful assessment of the actual subsidies, if any, they may have received.”