October 30, 2008
News Release 08-101
Inv. Nos. 701-TA-451 and 731-TA-1126-1127 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain lightweight thermal paper from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are subsidized, and imports of this product from China and Germany that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

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

As a result of the Commission's affirmative threat determinations, the Department of Commerce will issue countervailing duty and antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from China and an antidumping duty order on imports of this product from Germany.

The Commission's public report Certain Lightweight Thermal Paper from China and Germany (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-451 and 731-TA- 1126-1127 (Final), USITC Publication 4043, November 2008) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies may be obtained after December 1, 2008, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or by writing the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: The product covered by these investigations 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. Certain lightweight thermal paper 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. The merchandise subject to these investigations may be classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States ("HTSUS") under subheadings 4811.90.8040, 4811.90.9090, 3703.10.60, 4811.59.20, 4820.10.20, and 4823.40.00.

Status of Proceedings:

1. Types of investigations:  Final antidumping and countervailing duty.
2. Petitioner:  Appleton Papers, Inc.
3. Investigations instituted by USITC:  September 19, 2007.
4. Hearing:  October 2, 2008.
5. USITC vote:  October 30, 2008.
6. USITC notification of Department of Commerce:  November 10, 2008.  

U.S. Industry:

1. Number of U.S. firms involved in production of certain lightweight thermal paper in 2007:   
      2 firms produce jumbo rolls of certain lightweight thermal paper, and more than 20
      firms convert jumbo rolls into smaller rolls. 
2. Production volume is concentrated in Wisconsin, Ohio, Massachusetts, Kansas, and
      Illinois.
3. Employment of production and related workers: (1)
4. U.S. producers' shipments in 2007: (1)
5. U.S. apparent consumption in 2007: (1)
6. Ratio of quantity of total imports to U.S. apparent consumption in 2007: (1)

U.S. Imports:

1. Quantity of subject imports in 2007: (1)
2. Value of subject imports in 2007:  (1)

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