US Imposes New Duties On Chinese Paper Imports

The US Commerce Department has imposed a new countervailing duty on the import of Chinese coated paper. The duty, ranging from 3.92% to 12.83%, has been imposed to offset Chinese government subsidies available to the manufacturers. The department also has levied a new preliminary duty of 109.11% on Chinese companies producing or exporting potassium phosphate salts.

The Chinese government has expressed its dismay over the imposition of the duties. Chinese Commerce ministry spokesperson Yao Jin said, “Frequent countervailing probes by the United States into Chinese products have unfairly restricted normal exports." He said that US should open its markets and try to fight against protectionism. The US has also imposed a 17.48% duty on Indonesian coated paper.