PRINTING United Alliance Opposes New Tariffs on Aluminum Lithographic Printing Plates
by Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Coordinator Sep 18, 2024

On September 13, PRINTING United Alliance, in partnership with the News/Media Alliance, sent a cross-industry coalition letter to the International Trade Commission (ITC) urging the commissioners to reject antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on imports of aluminum lithographic printing plates from China and Japan. The duties were preliminarily imposed earlier this year at an excessive rate of 200% (China) and 87% (Japan). Because there is no U.S. supplier of the highly technical lithographic aluminum sheet product that is necessary to make the printing plates, they must be imported. 

The excessive duties will increase costs on printers and publishers and threaten the production of printed materials that American businesses rely on to provide essential products and services to their customers. These plates are used to print newspapers, books, labels, signs, marketing and educational materials, textbooks, catalogs, mailings, restaurant menus, informational inserts in prescriptions, product instruction manuals, packaging for consumer-packaged goods, and other materials that are critical to a broad cross-section of industries.   

The coalition letter reads, “The new proposed duties on aluminum printing plates have the potential to devastate entire industry segments, increase costs for businesses and their customers, jeopardize jobs, limit supply, and threaten the viability of many American small businesses.” 

Small businesses will disproportionately shoulder the burden of these duties. First, the duties will directly impact the bottom lines of many small businesses that rely on aluminum printing plates, including independent and family-owned printing companies and local and community newspapers that are often staffed by just one or two employees. In turn, costs will go up for their customers, including small businesses that advertise in newspapers, family-owned restaurants, small packaging or shipping companies, small and independent book publishers, retailers, marketing firms, and many others. 

The letter continues, “The printing, publishing, paper-producing, and mailing industries employ account for approximately 8.5 million jobs in the United States and represent five percent of the nation’s total civilian labor force. Our industries are already trying to navigate significant financial challenges, and the preliminary duties on aluminum printing plates that are currently in place are making matters worse.” Read the full letter here. 

On September 17, the ITC held an in-person hearing to decide whether to continue to allow these duties. Witnesses testifying in opposition to the duties included Dan Larkin, Vice President of Operations, FUJIFILM North America Corp., Graphic Communication Division, Patrick Henderson, Executive Director of Public and Regulatory Affairs at Quad/Graphics, Inc., and Joe Thomas, Production Manager at Bedwick & Jones Printing, Inc., just to name a few. The ITC is expected to issue a decision on October 22, 2024. If upheld, the ITC could impose additional duties of 200% on these essential materials. 

As a valued member of the printing community, your support is crucial in protecting the interests of our industry. Please visit PRINTING United Alliance’s Advocacy Center, a one-stop shop to help you and your company voice opinions to Congress. We urge you to contact your legislators and ask them to oppose the ITC’s new tariffs on aluminum printing plates. Take Action Now to quickly send a message to your legislators on this important issue. As always, thank you for your continued support. 

 

In this article, Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Coordinator, PRINTING United Alliance, addresses the International Trade Commission’s proposed duties on aluminum printing plates. More information can be found at Business Excellence-Legislation or reach out to Steph should you have additional questions specific to how these issues may affect your business: sbuka@printing.org.    

To become a member of the Alliance and learn more about how our subject matter experts can assist your company with services and resources such as those mentioned in this article, please contact the Alliance membership team: 888-385-3588 / membership@printing.org.     

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Stephanie Buka Government Affairs Coordinator
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Stephanie Buka is the Government Affairs Coordinator for PRINTING United Alliance. In this role, she supports Ford Bowers, CEO, the Government Affairs team, and coordinates efforts with lobbying firm, ACG Advocacy. She manages all aspects of grassroots advocacy campaigns, including facilitating timely call-to-action alerts and updates to The Advocacy Center on key federal and state legislative issues. As a member of the Office of Corporate Communications, Buka manages the content and audience building responsibilities for the Government Affairs team. She is also responsible for the administration of the Alliance's political action committee, PrintPAC.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Buka served as a senior legislative researcher, and later as a constituent services coordinator, for the 15-member legislative body representing 1.3 million residents of Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition to drafting legislation and addressing constituent concerns, Buka cultivated strong relationships with appointed and elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels of government.

Buka holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). She also earned a master's degree in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, along with a Certificate in Forensic Science and Law from Duquesne University.

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