Kagen Stands Up for Papermakers Again

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 30, 2010

KAGEN  STANDS  UP  FOR  PAPERMAKERS  AGAIN

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. continues to fight to protect our paper jobs in Northeast Wisconsin and across the country.

As part of his continued opposition to China’s illegal dumping of paper into America, Dr. Kagen introduced House Resolution 1699, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that foreign countries have engaged in unfair trade practices in the United States with regards to lightweight paper products.

“I am working hard to protect our jobs by leveling the playing field with China,” Kagen said.  “China should take our values–not steal our jobs by cheating."

Dr. Kagen’s resolution cites an International Trade Commission (ITC) finding that lightweight thermal paper from China and Germany was being illegally dumped into the United States market; similar to its finding that China and Indonesia were illegally dumping coated paper into the U.S.

Recognizing that the ITC imposed increased tariffs on paper products that it determined were intentionally undercutting the ability of U.S. manufacturers, Kagen called for identical action on behalf of coated manufacturers in the U.S.

Last week, Kagen joined 180 members of the House of Representatives in a letter to President Obama urging him to address unfair Chinese trade practices that benefit China’s  green technology manufacturers to the detriment of  American competitors.

Recognizing the President’s commitment to trade enforcement, the letter underscored the need for the Administration to take action on the basis of the Steelworkers’ Section 301 petition and by ensuring that USTR has the resources and personnel it needs to target these practices aggressively and comprehensively.

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