November 16, 2007
News Release 07-114
Inv. Nos. 701-TA-451 and 731-TA-1126-1128 (P)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC or Commission) today announced its determinations in connection with its preliminary phase antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning imports of certain lightweight thermal paper from China, Germany, and Korea.

The Commission determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain lightweight thermal paper from China that are allegedly subsidized and from China and Germany that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value. The Commission made a finding of negligibility with respect to Korea. Imports are generally deemed "negligible" if they amounted to less than 3 percent of all such merchandise imported into the United States within the most recent 12-month period for which data are available preceding the filing of the petition.

With respect to China, Chairman Daniel R. Pearson, Vice Chairman Shara L. Aranoff, and Commissioners Deanna Tanner Okun, Irving A. Williamson, and Dean A. Pinkert made affirmative threat determinations; Commissioner Charlotte R. Lane made an affirmative present injury determination. With respect to Germany, Commissioners Lane and Pinkert made affirmative present injury determinations; Commissioner Williamson made an affirmative threat determination; and Chairman Pearson, Vice Chairman Aranoff, and Commissioner Okun made negative determinations. With respect to Korea, all six Commissioners made a finding of negligibility.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its countervailing duty investigation of imports of this product from China and its antidumping investigations of imports of this product from China and Germany, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about December 13, 2007, and its preliminary antidumping determinations due on or about February 26, 2008. As a result of the Commission's finding of negligibility with respect to Korea, that investigation will end.

The Commission's public report Certain Lightweight Thermal Paper from China, Germany, and Korea (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-451 and 731-TA-1126-1128 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3964, November 2007) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after December 21, 2007, by calling 202-205-2000 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: For purposes of this investigation, the product covered is thermal paper with a basis weight of 70 grams per square meter ("g/m2") (with a tolerance of + 4.0 g/m2) or less; irrespective of dimensions; with or without a base coat on one or both sides; with thermal active coating(s) on one or both sides that is a mixture of the dye and the developer that react and form an image when heat is applied; with or without a top coat; and without an adhesive backing. It is typically (but not exclusively) used in point-of-sale applications such as ATM receipts, credit card receipts, gas pump receipts, and retail store receipts and is provided for in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States ("HTSUS") under subheadings 4811.90.8040 and 4811.90.9090.

Status of Proceedings:

1. Type of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty.
2. Petitioner:  Appleton Papers, Inc., Appleton, WI.
3. Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC: September 19, 2007.
4. Commission's conference: October 10, 2007.
5. USITC vote: November 16, 2007.
6. USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce: November 27, 2007.
7. USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: December 4, 2007.


U.S. Industry:

1. Number of plants in 2006: coaters, two; converters, eighteen.
2. Location of plants: coaters, Massachusetts and Wisconsin; converters, Arizona, California, Florida,
   Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio,
   Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
3. Employment of production and related workers for coaters and converters in 2006: (1)
4. U.S. producers' shipments during 2006 (tons): (1) 
5. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2006: (1)
6. Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2006: (1)


U.S. Imports:

1. Quantity of subject imports during 2006 (tons): (1)
2. Value of subject imports during 2006 ($1,000): (1)

(1) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.