Canadian Government Ends Investigation into Alleged Dumping and Subsidizing of Chinese Curtainwall Units
October 1, 2012

by Kaitlan Mitchell, kmitchell@glass.com

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has terminated its investigation of the alleged injurious dumping and subsidizing of certain unitized wall modules from China, according to a statement from the government agency. According to the statement, the agency determined "that the evidence does not disclose a reasonable indication that the dumping and subsidizing of the subject goods have caused injury or retardation or are threatening to cause injury."

CBSA had launched its investigation this summer, after a complaint was filed by several Canada-based curtainwall manufacturers alleging that that 80 China-based exporters and 17 China-based importers of unitized wall module producers had "caused injury and [were] threatening to cause injury to the Canadian industry producing these goods." In addition, the complaint also claimed "that the dumping and subsidizing of these goods are harming Canadian production by causing the following: lost sales, price erosion, price suppression, reduced profitability, loss of market share, reduced employment and underutilization of capacity." The complaint was based on observations made during January 1, 2009 through March 31, 2012.

In a preliminary "Statement of Reasons" as to how it chose to further investigate the claims, the CBSA had stated that "The CBSA [found] the complainants' allegations of reduced profitability to be reasonable and well supported."

Prior to CBSA's termination of the investigation, October 15 was the projected date for CBSA to make its preliminary decision as to whether the imports are being dumped and/or subsidized by. If the allegations proved accurate, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) would have held public hearings to inquire as to the material damage to the Canadian market.

What are your thoughts on the decision by CBSA? Please email kmitchell@glass.com.