WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján, and Michelle Lujan Grisham applauded the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) for its unanimous vote to reverse the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Canadian newsprint, which have threatened to devastate local newspapers across New Mexico.
The New Mexico delegation released the following joint statement:
“We applaud the ITC for making the absolute correct decision to reverse the administration’s damaging tariffs on newsprint. These tariffs have already hurt local papers in New Mexico and across the country – causing lost jobs and decreased reporting on local and national issues of deep importance to surrounding communities. Over the long term, the tariffs would have been truly catastrophic for publishers and local newspapers, which provide an essential service to small and rural communities across New Mexico.
“The journalism industry is already grappling with a challenging economic landscape, and these tariffs threatened to devastate local newspapers and damage the fabric of American communities that rely on robust journalism to stay informed. In many towns and rural communities in New Mexico, the local newspaper is the primary source of information – keeping communities connected and thriving. That’s why, all along, we have strongly opposed the tariffs and urged the ITC to reach the conclusion it did today. Moving forward, we will continue to fight off destructive policies like these – because a free press and informed citizens at the local level are fundamental to the success of our democracy.”
In July, the New Mexico delegation sent a letter to USITC Chairman David S. Johanson, urging the ITC to reverse the newsprint tariffs and writing that the tariffs have already had an adverse impact on local newspapers and publishers. In March, the delegation also wrote to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in opposition to the tariffs.
