U.S. thermal paper makers burned by Chinese, German imports

U.S. thermal paper makers burned by Chinese, German imports The U.S. International Trade Commission determined Thursday that U.S. makers of certain lightweight thermal paper were injured by similar imports from China and Germany.
   The Commerce Department affirmed that imports of this commodity from these countries were sold in the United States at less than fair market value. In addition, the department said China's lightweight thermal paper producers received government subsidies.
   Appleton Papers filed the petition calling for the U.S. government's investigation.
   Lightweight thermal paper is commonly used to produce receipts at automated bank machines, gas pumps and retail stores.
   According to the ITC, there were two U.S. firms involved in the production of lightweight thermal paper in 2007, with more than 20 companies involved in converting jumbo rolls of the paper into smaller rolls. Most of the U.S. production is concentrated in Wisconsin, Ohio, Massachusetts, Kansas and Illinois.
   As a result of the ITC's affirmative threat determination, the Commerce Department will now issue countervailing and antidumping duty orders on certain imports of lightweight thermal paper from China and an antidumping duty order on similar imports from Germany.
   The paper subject to these investigations may be classified in the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule under subheadings 4811.90.8040, 4811.90.9090, 3703.10.60, 4811.59.20, 4820.10.20, and 4823.40.00.