Federal government urged to remove tariff for imported paper

A campaign led by Printing Industries is calling on the Federal Government to remove the five per cent tariff on imported coated paper grades.

According to Printing Industries CEO, Philip Andersen, the campaign began in early December 2009 following PaperlinX’s decision to exit local manufacturing.

“PaperlinX’s announcement and the subsequent failure to find buyers for its paper mills scheduled for shut down by the end of this financial year, meant that urgent action was required to be taken to ensure that the local printing industry did not continue to face tariff related cost imposts,” he said.

“We have called on the Federal Government to remove all the coated paper import tariffs that had been imposed to protect local manufacturing.”

Recently Tariff Concession Orders were granted exempting the following paper grades from tariff duty:
•         4810.13.90 – paper and paperboard, coated with kaolin (china clay) or other inorganic substances on one OR both sides, in rolls exceeding 15 cm in width
•         4810.19.90 - paper and paperboard, coated with kaolin (china clay) or other inorganic substances on one OR both sides, in sheets, in the unfolded state, with both sides exceeding 36 cm
•         4810.22.90 - paper and paperboard, coated with kaolin (china clay) OR other inorganic substances on one OR both sides, being EITHER of the following:
(a)    In sheets, in the unfolded state, with BOTH sides exceeding 36 cm;
(b)   In rolls exceeding 15 cm in width
•         4810.29.90 - paper and paperboard, coated with kaolin (china clay) OR other inorganic substances on one OR both sides, being EITHER of the following:
(c)    In sheets, in the unfolded state, with BOTH sides exceeding 36 cm;
(d)   In rolls exceeding 15 cm in width

Printing Industries national manager for policy and government affairs, Hagop Tchamkertenian, said that the logic of offering tariff protection for coated paper stock was no longer valid with PaperlinX’s exiting local manufacturing.

“You cannot protect an industry that no longer exists. While we have been advocating the removal of the 5 per cent tariff duty the Federal Government has instead opted for granting Tariff Concession Orders,” he said.

 “We have been able to highlight to them the difference between the paper grades and we remain hopeful that this unnecessary cost impost will now be removed.”