WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, called on the Obama Administration to protect manufacturing workers and jobs at Appleton Papers, Inc. in West Carrollton. Portman and Brown led a bipartisan group of eight senators and representatives in calling on the U.S. Department of Commerce to impose duties on a foreign paper producer. A preliminary investigation shows that the company manipulated data to avoid paying antidumping duties, hurting domestic manufacturing at companies like Appleton, Inc.
âAmerican workers, like those in West Carrollton, can compete and win on a level playing field. However, when foreign competitors donât play by the rules, we must stand up to ensure fair competition and enforcement of the laws on the books,â said Portman. âIn 2011, I worked with my colleagues to protect Appletonâs workers from unfair imports and was successful in getting the Administration to reverse their position. Ohio manufacturers like Appleton need our continued support and I urge the Commerce Department to strongly support their case.â
Brown said the U.S. cannot allow foreign companies to get away with "predatory pricing" that undermines our economic growth and shutters our factories.
âDumping allows foreign paper companies to undersell U.S. companies, including Appleton Papers," Brown said. "As a result, manufacturing workers have lost jobs and communities have been forced to deal with plant closures. I commend the Commerce Department on the work theyâve done so far to curb unfair trading practices and urge them to continue protecting American jobs by imposing duties on Koehler paper sold in the United States.â
According to the Commerce Department, German exporter Papierfabrik August Koehler AG and Koehler America, Inc. â known as Koehler â sold its merchandise at a less than normal value and had deliberately manipulated data to avoid paying antidumping duties for imports on lightweight thermal paper (LWTP).
âAmerican workers, like those in West Carrollton, can compete and win on a level playing field. However, when foreign competitors donât play by the rules, we must stand up to ensure fair competition and enforcement of the laws on the books,â said Portman. âIn 2011, I worked with my colleagues to protect Appletonâs workers from unfair imports and was successful in getting the Administration to reverse their position. Ohio manufacturers like Appleton need our continued support and I urge the Commerce Department to strongly support their case.â
- READ: the senators' letter here.
Brown said the U.S. cannot allow foreign companies to get away with "predatory pricing" that undermines our economic growth and shutters our factories.
âDumping allows foreign paper companies to undersell U.S. companies, including Appleton Papers," Brown said. "As a result, manufacturing workers have lost jobs and communities have been forced to deal with plant closures. I commend the Commerce Department on the work theyâve done so far to curb unfair trading practices and urge them to continue protecting American jobs by imposing duties on Koehler paper sold in the United States.â
According to the Commerce Department, German exporter Papierfabrik August Koehler AG and Koehler America, Inc. â known as Koehler â sold its merchandise at a less than normal value and had deliberately manipulated data to avoid paying antidumping duties for imports on lightweight thermal paper (LWTP).