WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today released this statement after being informed that UPM-Madison’s paper mill intends to curtail production for two weeks later this month.

“We are troubled by these temporary layoffs, which will come as a blow to the workers, their families and the region. We have raised concerns regarding the unfair subsidies received by the Port Hawkesbury paper mill directly with the USTR, and we will continue to press the Administration to investigate this subsidy and pursue remedies. We will continue to fight unfair trade practices that threaten Maine jobs.”

The company cites subsidies provided by the provincial government of Nova Scotia to a competing mill in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia as one of the reasons behind this decision.  In December 2012, Senator Collins led a bipartisan letter to then-U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk urging the Administration to examine these potentially illegal subsidies and, in February 2013, Senator King also directed a letter to Ambassador Kirk expressing his concern about the subsidies. 

A copy of the response to Senator Collins’ letter is here.

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