Trade Ruling Favors Wisconsin Papermaker

The International Trade Commission ruled on October 30 that artificially low-priced imports from Chinese companies pose an economic threat to Wisconsin papermaker Appleton. The firm argued that foreign competitors were selling products in the United States below the fair market value. Governor Jim Doyle, Senator Herb Kohl, and U.S. Representatives Steve Kagen and Tom Petri testified before the commission at an October hearing on the case. The quasi-judicial panel's opinion will go to the Commerce Department in November and become public in early December. Once the U.S. Commerce Department receives the decision, the agency will start requiring the lightweight thermal paper makers and exporters from China and Germany to post cash deposits on goods sold in the United States. The cash deposits, which vary by company, are designed to increase the cost of foreign products and close the gap between their prices and those charged by U.S. producers. The money will go to the federal treasury.

-- Stanley Pfrang