08/31/2018

ONMA thanks Rep. Bill Johnson for support on tariff issue

A planned visit in Cambridge on Wednesday with U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson to discuss newsprint tariffs and other issues turned into an opportunity to thank Johnson in person for his support of Ohio's newspaper industry and the communities they serve.

The International Trade Commission announced a few hours before the visit that it was rescinding tariffs that were doing severe damage to newspapers across Ohio and America. Rep. Johnson has been the leading supporter of the industry's position in the Ohio delegation in Congress.

The group also discussed the impact that aluminum tariffs are having on the price of printing plates and the challenges to the industry's business model related to Google's and Facebook's control of nearly 70 percent of all spending on digital advertising.

Three newspaper executives with operations in Johnson's Appalachian Ohio district joined Executive Director Dennis Hetzel for the meeting. Pictured, from left, are Bill Albrecht, group publisher, GateHouse Media Ohio; Lori Figurski, regional advertising director, Ogden Newspapers, and treasurer of the ONMA Board of Trustees; Rep. Johnson; Monica Nieporte, president, APG Media of Ohio and president of the ONMA Board of Trustees; and Hetzel. Also attending was Daniel Hurley of Capitol Consulting in Columbus, ONMA's government relations partner.

“I want to thank Rep. Johnson and also ONMA members for their help in this critical battle,” Hetzel said. “Many of you talked directly to members of Congress. Others wrote letters. Several publishers even went to Washington. Dozens of our papers wrote editorials, ran ads and engaged readers for support. It was our privilege to help in any way that we could.”

Rep. Johnson issued this statement following the meeting with ONMA:

"I was pleased the International Trade Commission (USITC) reversed the tariffs on uncoated groundwood paper from Canada, which includes newsprint. I've heard from many local newspapers about this issue, and I share their concern. I wrote a letter in July to Commerce Secretary Ross and the USITC urging the administration to recognize the impact this particular tariff was having on many small-market papers, many of whom were already struggling prior to the uncoated groundwood paper tariff. In a rural district like the one I represent, local daily and weekly newspapers remain a critical news source of information.  Today, in a meeting in my Cambridge office, I met with representatives of the Ohio News Media Association and reiterated my position on this important issue.

"I do believe that several of the tariffs in other sectors and industries implemented by President Trump are having their intended effect. It's also important to remember that many of these tariffs are just a starting point for negotiations, and where we are now is not where we will end up. Just like President Trump, I am all for free trade, but it must also be fair trade."