2026-01283: Lightweight Thermal Paper From the People's Republic of China: Continuation of Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2026)] [Notices] [Pages 2910-2911] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-01283] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A-570-920, C-570-921] Lightweight Thermal Paper From the People's Republic of China: Continuation of Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders

Agency

Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

Summary

As a result of the determinations by the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) order and the countervailing duty (CVD) order on lightweight thermal paper from the People's Republic of China (China) would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping, countervailable subsidies, and material injury to an industry in the United States, Commerce is publishing a notice of continuation of these AD and CVD orders.

Dates

Applicable January 8, 2026.

For Further Information Contact

Matthew Eiss, Trade Agreements Policy and Negotiations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5675.

Supplementary Information

Background On November 24, 2008, Commerce published in the Federal Register the AD and CVD orders on lightweight thermal paper from China.\1\ On June 2, 2025, the ITC instituted,\2\ and Commerce initiated,\3\ the third sunset review of the Orders, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). As a result of its reviews, Commerce determined that revocation of the Orders would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and countervailable subsidies, and therefore, notified the ITC of the magnitude of the margins of dumping [[Page 2911]] and subsidy rates likely to prevail should the Orders be revoked.\4\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ See Antidumping Duty Orders: Lightweight Thermal Paper from Germany and the People's Republic of China, 73 FR 70959 (November 24, 2008); see also Lightweight Thermal Paper from the People's Republic of China: Notice of Amended Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Notice of Countervailing Duty Order, 73 FR 70958 (November 24, 2008) (collectively, Orders). \2\ See Lightweight Thermal Paper from China; Institution of Five-Year Reviews, 90 FR 23370 (June 2, 2025). \3\ See Initiation of Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews, 90 FR 23310 (June 2, 2025). \4\ See Lightweight Thermal Paper from the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Expedited Third Sunset Review of the Antidumping Duty Order, 90 FR 51641 (November 18, 2025), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (IDM); see also Lightweight Thermal Paper From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Expedited Third Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order, 90 FR 51643 (November 18, 2025), and accompanying IDM. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- On January 8, 2026, the ITC published its determination, pursuant to sections 751(c) and 752(a) of the Act, that revocation of the Orders would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to an industry in the United States within a reasonably foreseeable time.\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ See Lightweight Thermal Paper from China; Determinations, 91 FR 721 (January 8, 2026) (ITC Final Determination). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scope of the Orders The merchandise covered by these Orders includes certain lightweight thermal paper, which is thermal paper with a basis weight of 70 grams per square meter (g/m2) (with a tolerance of 4.0 g/m2) or less; irrespective of dimensions; \6\ with or without a base coat \7\ on one or both sides; with thermal active coating(s) \8\ on one or both sides that is a mixture of the dye and the developer that react and form an image when heat is applied; with or without a top coat; \9\ and without an adhesive backing. Certain lightweight thermal paper is typically (but not exclusively) used in point-of-sale applications such as ATM receipts, credit card receipts, gas pump receipts, and retail store receipts. The merchandise subject to these Orders may be classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheadings 3703.10.60, 4811.59.20, 4811.90.8040, 4811.90.9090, 4820.10.20, 4823.40.00, 4811.90.8030, 4811.90.8050, 4811.90.9030, and 4811.90.9050.\10\ Although HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of these Orders is dispositive. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ Lightweight thermal paper is typically produced in jumbo rolls that are slit to the specifications of the converting equipment and then converted into finished slit rolls. Both jumbo and converted rolls (as well as lightweight thermal paper in any other form, presentation, or dimension) are covered by the scope of these orders. \7\ A base coat, when applied, is typically made of clay and/or latex and like materials and is intended to cover the rough surface of the paper substrate and to provide insulating value. \8\ A thermal active coating is typically made of sensitizer, dye, and co-reactant. \9\ A top coat, when applied, is typically made of polyvinyl acetone, polyvinyl alcohol, and/or like materials and is intended to provide environmental protection, an improved surface for press printing, and/or wear protection for the thermal print head. \10\ HTSUS subheading 4811.90.8000 was a classification used for lightweight thermal paper until January 1, 2007. Effective that date, subheading 4811.90.8000 was replaced with 4811.90.8020 (for gift wrap, a non-subject product) and 4811.90.8040 (for ``other'' including lightweight thermal paper). HTSUS subheading 4811.90.9000 was a classification for lightweight thermal paper until July 1, 2005. Effective that date, subheading 4811.90.9000 was replaced with 4811.90.9010 (for tissue paper, a non-subject product) and 4811.90.9090 (for ``other,'' including lightweight thermal paper). As of January 1, 2009, the ITC deleted HTSUS subheadings 4811.90.8040 and 4811.90.9090 and added HTSUS subheadings 4811.90.8030, 4811.90.8050, 4811.90.9030, and 4811.90.9050 to the HTSUS (2009). See Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (2009), available at www.usitc.gov. These HTSUS subheadings were added to the scope of the order in lightweight thermal paper's less than fair value investigation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Continuation of the Orders As a result of the determinations by Commerce and the ITC that revocation of the Orders would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping, countervailable subsidies, and material injury to an industry in the United States, pursuant to section 751(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce hereby orders the continuation of the Orders. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to collect AD and CVD cash deposits at the rates in effect at the time of entry for all imports of subject merchandise. The effective date of the continuation of the Orders will be January 8, 2026.\11\ Pursuant to section 751(c)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(c)(2), Commerce intends to initiate the next five-year reviews of the Orders not later than 30 days prior to fifth anniversary of the date of the last determination by the ITC. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ See ITC Final Determination. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Administrative Protective Order (APO) This notice also serves as a final reminder to parties subject to an APO of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3), which continues to govern business proprietary information in this segment of the proceeding. Timely written notification of the return or destruction of APO materials, or conversion to judicial protective order, is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is subject to sanction. Notification to Interested Parties These five-year (sunset) reviews and this notice are in accordance with sections 751(c) and 751(d)(2) of the Act and published in accordance with section 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.218(f)(4). Dated: January 20, 2026. Christopher Abbott, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. [FR Doc. 2026-01283 Filed 1-22-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P