Maine paper mill workers cleared a major hurdle Tuesday when the U.S. Department of Commerce sided with U.S.-based paper manufacturers and their workers who filed a petition against foreign imports.

“This is fantastic news and it means we are one step closer to crossing the finish line in this case,” U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, said in a statement.

Michaud was one of several officials from Maine who testified at congressional hearings last week in the case. Other Mainers who spoke on behalf of local paper mills included U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, and Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and Rumford-based Local 900 union representatives.

Filed at about this time last year, the petition outlines what supporters believe to be unfair trade practices that give Chinese and Indonesian imports an advantage in the market. In addition to foreign subsidies, the paper industry and unions say the lack of environmental and labor law in the two foreign countries present an unfair advantage to U.S. producers who must adhere to strict regulations.

The petition was filed by NewPage Corp., Sappi Fine Paper North America, Appleton Coated LLC and the United Steelworkers.

The petition resulted in a tariff being placed on coated paper coming from China and Indonesia a few months ago. Union representatives consider new business at the local NewPage mill to be a direct result of the tariff and want to make sure it remains.

“Those tariff’s have been in place. It has helped our mill. There’s no question,” said Local 900 Vice President Chris Dickson. “The volume coming in from China has declined because they’re paying that added fee. So it would only make sense that our orders would pick up.”

Dickson also traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to testify. Supporters hope Tuesday’s decision bodes well for the upcoming International Trade Commission decision, expected next month. Backers of the petition are calling on both agencies to make the tariffs permanent.

“A final, affirmative International Trade Commission determination in this case is critical to the paper industry, its workers and our state’s economy,” Michaud said.