Shaheen Announces Support for Bipartisan PRINT Act to Address Urgent Crisis Facing Printers and Publishers

**Printers and publishers across the country represent more than 600,000 American jobs which are threatened by new import taxes that are driving up costs by as much as 32 percent**

(Washington)—Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) signed on to the bipartisan PRINT Act introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) to suspend the import taxes on groundwood paper that is dramatically driving up costs for American printers and publishers.

“Throughout New Hampshire, local newspapers play an indispensable role in informing their communities and fostering civic discourse,” said Shaheen. “These import taxes could be a fatal blow to many regional papers who are already downsizing and operating on razor thin margins. These taxes also threaten jobs across other publishing sectors. I’m proud to support the bipartisan PRINT Act and hope Congress can move forward in a timely manner before the full ramifications of these taxes are felt. In the meantime, I will also urge the Trump administration to use its discretion and take action to save these important American jobs.”

The Department of Commerce initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations in late 2017 into the Canadian uncoated groundwood paper industry on behalf of a single domestic paper mill.  This paper is used by newspapers, book publishers, and numerous other commercial printers in the United States.  The import taxes are as high as 32 percent on some products, and that cost is passed on to printers, book publishers, and newspapers that are already under severe economic stress.

Specifically, the PRINT Act would:

• Require a study by the Department of Commerce of the economic wellbeing, health, and vitality of the newsprint industry and the local newspaper publishing industry in the United States;
• Require a report from the Commerce Secretary to the President and Congress within 90 days that includes both the findings of the study and any recommendations the Secretary considers appropriate;
• Stay the effect of proceedings of the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission in regards to uncoated groundwood paper until the President certifies that he has received the report and that he has concluded that such a determination is in the economic interest of the United States; and
• Halt the collection of deposits for uncoated groundwood paper until the president has made such certifications.