Companion Bill Introduced in House to End AD/CV Duty Collection in Newsprint Case

A bipartisan bill to end cash deposit collections on newsprint and that would delay antidumping and countervailing duty final determinations in those cases was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., and Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla. Both this bill and a version introduced in May in the Senate are called the PRINT Act, for Protecting Rational Incentives in Newsprint Trade Act of 2018. The top cash deposit rate on a company for the countervailing duty case is 9.93% (see 1801120008); most Canadian exports face a 22.16% antidumping cash deposit (see 1803160046).

Both the cash deposit collections and the final determinations would be stopped until a study on the economics of newspapers and newsprint is concluded, and until President Donald Trump still certifies that antidumping and countervailing duty cases against Canadian groundwood paper exporters is in the national interest. This bill, which has an additional 10 Republican co-sponsors, was introduced June 8.

"This legislation places a temporary hold on the newsprint tariffs, giving time for the Commerce Department to investigate the negative impact the tariffs have on our hometown papers," Noem said in a statement announcing the bill's introduction. Noem said South Dakota has more than 125 local newspapers, and they have told her their newsprint costs have increased 20 percent to 30 percent because of tariffs on Canadian newsprint.

"That’s a number we need to protect. Their reporting reminds us the world is made of neighborhoods and shared experiences. It keeps us connected and strengthens our sense of community and connection. Thank you for supporting your local newspaper," she said. The Senate bill (see 1805140071) was co-sponsored by two Democrats, an independent and eight Republicans, with the two Maine senators, Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (D), as the lead sponsors.