News/Media Alliance urges Trump administration to forgo any implementation of tariffs on newsprint, paper used by US newspapers, magazines, book publishers, printers; tariffs under consideration would place greater burden on American publishers

April 2, 2025 (press release) –

VIENNA, Virginia , April 2 -- The News/Media Alliance issued the following news release on April 1, 2025 :

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News/Media Alliance Urges Administration To Forgo Additional, Targeted Newsprint Tariffs Under Consideration

Arlington, VA - Today, the News/Media Alliance submitted a joint letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on behalf of its members in the printing and news publishing industries asking the Commerce Department to forgo any implementation of tariffs on newsprint and paper used by U.S. newspapers, magazines, book publishers, and printers. The tariffs under consideration would come on top of any new tariffs already announced, or to be announced tomorrow, potentially adding an even greater burden onto America's publishers.

This letter comes in response to President Donald Trump's March 1 Executive Order which instructed the Secretary of Commerce to investigate the effects on national security of imports of wood products: timber, lumber, and their derivative products (paper based products), on top of the sweeping tariffs going into effect April 2 . The Alliance is asking that newsprint and other specialty paper used in newspapers and magazines be exempted from current and future tariffs under consideration on imports from Canada . As President Trump prepares to announce another round of tariffs tomorrow, the Alliance will continue to advocate that these products be exempted from any and all tariffs.

The letter, which the Alliance submitted in coordination with the PRINTING United Alliance , lays out the following arguments:

* "Tariffs could end up harming production by American businesses, particularly by including newsprint and paper used by U.S. newspapers, magazines, book publishers and printers, put jobs at risk, increase costs, and harm small businesses"

* "The business reality is that many U.S. publishers must rely upon Canadian paper as a crucial supply component for print newspapers. With newsprint being the second largest expense for small newspapers after human resource costs, any tariffs on Canadian imports of paper will have a devastating impact. "

* "Even if all media companies switched to using U.S. companies, there is not enough capacity to produce the supply needed. Furthermore, due to the capital-intensive nature of paper making and a decline in paper use, no new U.S. investment in paper production will be forthcoming."

* "The 2018 tariffs on Canadian imports of uncoated groundwood paper, which were ultimately reversed, seriously disrupted the newsprint market, increasing newsprint costs by over 30 percent and forced many newspapers to reduce their print distribution and cut staff in communities across our country, resulting in considerable job losses in the United States ."

* "A thriving local news ecosystem - and the resulting benefits - can bolster our national security by ensuring that our communities get news from American sources that are closely associated with the communities they serve."

* "Local newspapers also serve as the economic barometer of their community. They not only create jobs, but support local chambers of commerce, economic development councils, local higher educational institutions and community event sponsorships. All of these would be impacted by higher costs limiting their ability to maintain that level of support causing further erosion of the local economy."

Danielle Coffey , President and CEO of the News/Media Alliance , said, " The News/Media Alliance supports strong trade enforcement to protect U.S. industries and jobs, but tariffs on newsprint and magazine paper would do the opposite. Thousands of local news publishers and magazine companies across the U.S. rely on Canadian newsprint, and do not have the resources to afford a significant increase in their printing costs. If these tariffs are implemented, we will see many go out of business - killing jobs, shutting down small businesses, and eliminating the only local source of news for many communities across America. We are urging the Commerce Department to refrain from implementing these destructive tariffs, and instead focus on trade policy that strengthens U.S. industries and businesses."

News/Media Alliance's comments on this matter come in the midst of a series of efforts to push back on tariffs on newsprint and other paper-based products. The Alliance is supportive of a bill introduced by Senators Tim Kaine , Amy Klobuchar and Mark Warner which would undo the Administration's tariffs on Canada and Mexico . The Alliance was instrumental in the successful fight to overturn newsprint tariffs in 2018 due to the harm caused to publishers and the American public, and looks to have similar success this time, as it continues to work in Washington to build support for trade policy that protects America's newspapers.

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Original text here: https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/nma-urges-administration-against-additional-targeted-tariffs/