• by Ray Schultz , October 26, 2024

The United States could be closer to placing high tariffs on aluminum lithographic printing plates from China and Japan -- a move that would hurt publishers. 

The International Trade Commission (ITC) has determined that imported plates from those countries are sold at less than fair value, the News/Media Alliance reports. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce found that the plates are subsidized by the government of China, the ITC says.

This could result in Commerce imposing a countervailing duty order and antidumping orders on imports of these plates from China and Japan, the News/Media Alliance notes. 

Very high duties of 200% for China and 87% for Japan were preliminarily imposed earlier this year.  

“A decision by the federal government to impose new tariffs on aluminum printing plates would threaten news publishers’ critical news-gathering missions, put American jobs at risk, and cause additional news outlets to shutter, contributing to expanding news deserts across the country,” said News/Media Alliance President & CEO Danielle Coffey.

The ITC’s report will be available by December 2.