In the autumn of 2023 Kodak called for the tariffs citing “unfairly low prices” that significantly undercut pricing in Kodak’s domestic market.
Kodak is the last remaining manufacturer of aluminium plates in the States.
Preliminary findings from the US Department of Commerce state that combined countervailing (anti-subsidy) duties and anti-dumping duties should be applied to plates manufactured in China for Fujifilm of 102.07%; and for all other manufacturers of 171.12%.
Plates made by Fujifilm in Japan have been handed a preliminary dumping duty of 87.81%.
In a letter to customers, Kodak chairman and CEO Jim Continenza said the Department of Commerce had determined that Chinese and Japanese manufacturers had been “dumping” plates into the United States “at a price that is below that producer’s sales price in the country of origin (for plates from Japan) or at a price that is lower than the cost of production (for plates from China).”
He said: “This ruling is another significant step toward establishing a level playing field in plates and protecting the US print industry’s future. It will allow us to preserve American manufacturing jobs and continue to provide our customers with a reliable supply of high-quality lithographic plates manufactured at our facility in Columbus, Georgia.”
Import statistics cited by the US trade authorities state that the value of printing plates imported into the US from Japan nearly doubled in 2022, to just under $88m (£70m).
The value of plates imported from China rocketed by 570% in the same period to nearly $17.5m, from a much lower base.
In a statement, Fujifilm said it would continue to “explain and defend our position to the International Trade Commission” ahead of the final determinations on the matter, which are due during July and August.
Fujifilm said: “The preliminary antidumping duties from the US Department of Commerce is predicated in part on the higher market prices of our aluminum printing plates in Japan, which creates the misguided perception of Fujifilm unfairly lowering US prices by comparison.
“The antidumping law allows Eastman Kodak to claim that the existence of higher prices in Japan somehow makes the lower prices offered to US customers ‘unfair’. But this is just not true.
“Fujifilm’s prices to its US customers are not unfair to anyone,” the corporation stated.
“We look forward to continuing to supply products and solutions to our customers, who clearly purchase our aluminum lithographic printing plates because of the innovative technology and superior features and benefits.”
In March Fujifilm filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Kodak in the States, claiming that Kodak’s Sonora processless plates infringed Fuifilm’s patents.
ECO3 said the tariff situation was “a non-issue” for its business due to the small volumes involved.
Head of marketing and applications Guy Desmet told Printweek: “In full year 2023 more than 95% of the volume we sold into North America was produced in Germany.
“The few customers still supplied with products from China are using conventional thermal plates that we do not produce anymore at our other sites. All these customers are being converted to more eco-friendly technologies.
“Today, we are not producing any volume anymore in China for North America,” he added.
Separately, ECO3 will showcase a new process-free plate, the Eclipse Pro, at Drupa.
