Paper imports harm local producers

The Ministry of Economic Affairs affirmed yesterday that massive imports of uncoated printing and writing paper from China, Japan and Indonesia have substantially damaged the local papermaking industry.

The ministry's remark indicated a prelude to the imposition of anti-dumping duties against the imported goods, according to a press release published on the ministry's International Trade Commission Web site.

The International Trade Commission made the affirmation on request from the Taiwan Paper Industry Association (台灣區造紙工業同業公會) after the first public hearing on the case was held on Nov. 20 in Taipei.

During the hearing, local paper manufacturers including Yuen Foong Yu Paper Manufacturing Co (永豐餘) and Taiwan Pulp and Paper Corp (台灣紙業) demanded the government take action to prevent the dumping of uncoated paper from the three countries.

In the statement, the commission said that there was reasonable evidence showing that local papermakers had been disadvantaged by cheaper imports.

The production, sales, profit and market share of made-in-Taiwan uncoated papers have declined over the years, while those of the competitors from the three countries have risen comparatively, the commission said.

The commission will send the preliminary findings to the Ministry of Finance, which will then have 70 days to produce a ruling on the dumping.