The CBSA started the investigation after receiving a complaint filed by Leland Industries Inc. of Toronto, Ontario, one of the largest Canadian producers of fasteners. The company claims that low-priced imports have increased, causing prices to decline. This, in turn, has harmed Canadian production through lower revenues, lost sales, under-utilization of capacity and deterioration in financial performance.
Dumping occurs when goods are sold to importers in Canada at prices that are less than their selling prices in the exporter's domestic market or at unprofitable prices. Subsidizing occurs when goods imported into Canada benefit from foreign government financial assistance. The Special Import Measures Act protects Canadian producers from the damaging effects of such unfair trade.
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (Tribunal) will now begin a preliminary inquiry into whether the imports are harming the Canadian producers. The Tribunal will issue a decision within 60 days. While the Tribunal is examining the question of injury, the CBSA will investigate whether the imports are being dumped or subsidized, and will make a decision within 90 days.
If there is a large increase in harmful imports and the Tribunal decides that retroactive application of anti-dumping or countervailing duty is justified, duty could be levied on the goods brought into Canada as of today.
A copy of the Statement of Reasons, which provides more details about this investigation, will be available on request from the Anti-dumping and Countervailing Directorate and on the CBSA's Web site at www.cbsa.gc.ca/sima within 15 days.
