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For Immediate Release                                Dec. 18, 2006

USW Cites Trade Commission Finding for Coated Sheet Paper

Dumped Imports from China, Indonesia, South Korea Causing Injury

Washington, D.C.  (Dec. 18) -- Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), said last Friday’s preliminary finding by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of injury to the industry producing coated free sheet paper is an important first step in safeguarding American jobs from unfair foreign competition.

“Our paper workers are pleased with the ITC’s initial finding that coated free sheet paper from Indonesia, China and South Korea is harming American jobs and the paper industry,” Gerard said.  He expects the next investigative phase by the U.S. Commerce Department will establish that foreign producers are dumping and foreign governments are subsidizing expanded paper-making capacity.

Tom Caldwell, a sheeter operator and President of USW Local 676 representing 1,100 workers at the Luke Paper of NewPage Corp., testified at the ITC’s November hearing that 130 jobs are being eliminated due to unfair imports. “The Luke mill is the largest private employer in Allegheny County (MD),” he