Canadian newsprint makers fear U.S. about to slap duties on its exports
OTTAWA — The ongoing softwood dispute with the United States may not be hurting Canada much yet, but the industry is bracing for a new trade battle with the U.S. that could take a bite out of a part of the sector that is already facing sharp declines.
Derek Nighbor, chief executive of the Forest Products Association of Canada, says heading into the new year, the industry is waiting for the U.S. Department of Commerce to decide if it believes Canada is dumping newsprint into the U.S. at below market value.
“This is not something that people are talking about, but in our sector we are concerned this could be worse than softwood,” said Nighbor.
The U.S. government has been investigating Canada’s newsprint industry since the end of August, after Washington-based North Pacific Paper Co., complained Canada was dumping newsprint into the U.S. market and unfairly subsidizing its industry at home.