PRINT Act

To require a study of the well-being of the newsprint and publishing industry in the United States, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Rational Incentives in Newsprint Trade Act of 2018 PRINT Act 2. Study of newsprint industry well-being (a) Study The Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a study of the economic well-being, health, and vitality of the newsprint industry and the local newspaper publishing industry in the United States, which shall include an assessment of the following: (1) The trends in demand for newsprint and traditional printed newspapers. (2) The trends in demand for digital or online consumption of news. (3) The costs of inputs in the production of traditional printed newspapers, including the use of newsprint. (4) The effect of declining readership of traditional printed newspapers on the continued viability of the newsprint and newspaper publishing industries and the continued availability of coverage of local news, local sports, local government, and local disaster prevention and awareness. (5) The trends in the pulp and paper industry of the United States and the effect of declining demand for newsprint on the health of the pulp and paper industry. (6) Measures undertaken by printers and newspaper publishers to reduce costs in response to increased costs for newsprint in the United States, and whether such measures have harmed local news coverage or reduced employment in the newspaper and publishing industries. (7) Whether measures undertaken by publishers and printers to reduce costs have harmed local businesses that advertise in local newspapers. (8) The global production capacity for newsprint in light of the declining demand for newsprint. (b) Report Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the President and Congress a report on— (1) the findings of the study required by subsection (a); and (2) any recommendations that the Secretary considers appropriate. (c) Stay of determinations (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2) and notwithstanding any provision of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 ( 19 U.S.C. 1671 (A) has received the report required by subsection (b); and (B) has concluded that giving effect to the determination is in the economic interest of the United States. (2) Rates (A) In general Until such time as the President issues the certification described in paragraph (1), the administering authority (as defined in section 771(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930 ( 19 U.S.C. 1677(1) 19 U.S.C. 1671b(d) (B) Effective date This paragraph shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act without regard to any later effective date of an order required by subparagraph (A). (3) Canada and Mexico Pursuant to article 1902 of the North American Free Trade Agreement and section 408 of the North America Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act ( 19 U.S.C. 3438 (4) Application This subsection applies only to an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation that is ongoing as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Protecting Rational Incentives in Newsprint Trade Act of 2018 or the PRINT Act This bill directs the Department of Commerce to conduct a study of, and to report to Congress regarding, the economic well-being, health, and vitality of the newsprint industry and the local newspaper publishing industry in the United States, including an assessment of: the trends in demand for newsprint and traditional printed newspapers, in demand for digital or online consumption of news, and in the U.S. pulp and paper industry and the effect of declining demand for newsprint on the health of such industry; measures undertaken by printers and newspaper publishers to reduce costs in response to increased costs for newsprint in the United States, and whether such measures have harmed local news coverage or reduced employment in the newspaper and publishing industries; whether measures undertaken by publishers and printers to reduce costs have harmed local businesses that advertise in local newspapers; and the global production capacity for newsprint in light of the declining demand for newsprint. Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission may not give effect to an affirmative determination in an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation relating to imports of uncoated groundwood paper until the President certifies that he has received the report and has concluded that giving effect to the determination is in the economic interest of the United States. Until such time as the President issues the certification, the administering authority shall order a rate of zero for deposits posted in such an investigation.