The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Illinois members of Congress have joined a growing list of critics who are blasting U.S. tariffs against Canadian newsprint, saying the duties are jeopardizing American newspapers already in weak health. The Globe's Brent Jang writes that 18 Illinois members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed a letter to oppose the tariffs. They are urging the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to pay attention to the close ties between American newspapers and Canadian producers of uncoated groundwood paper, notably newsprint. "We write to ask that you take into full consideration the negative impacts of these tariffs on the newspaper industry and other stakeholders in Illinois and throughout the United States," read the bipartisan letter sent recently to ITC chairwoman Rhonda Schmidtlein. The trade dispute stems from a complaint lodged last August by North Pacific Paper Co., also known as Norpac, a newsprint producer based in Longview, Wash. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Commerce sided with Norpac and decided to impose preliminary duties averaging 28.69 per cent against most Canadian groundwood, including newsprint and book-grade paper.