Newsprint is generally defined as uncoated paper weighing between approximately 40 and 57 grams per square meter, manufactured predominantly from mechanical pulp, and not surface-decorated or printed. Basis weight, pulp composition, and brightness level are the key specification parameters that buyers and sellers reference in contracts, and these same characteristics determine the correct Schedule B classification at the HTS level.

As domestic newspaper circulation has contracted, US mills have increasingly oriented surplus newsprint capacity toward export markets, particularly in Latin America and Asia where print media demand has been more resilient. Some mills have also converted capacity to produce other paper grades, reducing overall newsprint supply and supporting price floors. Exporters should monitor mill conversion announcements as they can affect availability and lead times.