The state newspaper trade group is hailing a decision by the International Trade Commission to reverse tariffs on Canadian-imported newsprint.

“This is a tremendous victory for newspapers across North America and for the independent press,” said Mississippi Press Association President Paul Keane, publisher of The Wayne County News. “If left unchecked, these tariffs posed a real and substantial threat to newspapers all over Mississippi and from coast to coast.”

Keane, who traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this year to discuss the existential threat of tariffs with Mississippi’s congressional delegation, singled out Mississippi’s senior Sen. Roger Wicker for his help in turning back the ITC’s determination.

“Sen. Wicker was vital in helping us make our case before the ITC last month,” Keane said. “His impassioned testimony spoke so well for the many men and women whose livelihoods depend on the community newspaper and newsprint industries.”

Keane also thanked MPA Past President Bill Jacobs, the retired publisher of The Daily Leader, for his leadership in the tariff fight.

“Bill was our point person with state and national leaders, and we are in his debt for his continued service to Mississippi newspapers.”

Both Keane and MPA Executive Director Layne Bruce hailed the work of national trade groups, including the News Media Alliance and the National Newspaper Association, for their successful lobbying efforts on the issue.

“These groups have been working virtually non-stop for the past year to deliver a successful ruling for us,” Bruce said. “They’ve done a tremendous job.”