The CBSA starts investigations into the dumping and subsidizing of certain aluminum extrusions

OTTAWA, Aug. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)today announced the initiation of investigations into the alleged injuriousdumping and subsidizing of certain aluminum extrusions originating in orexported from the People's Republic of China. The investigations follow a complaint filed by Almag Aluminum Inc. ofBrampton, Ontario; Apel Extrusions Limited of Calgary, Alberta; Can ArtAluminum Extrusion Inc. of Brampton, Ontario; Metra Aluminum Inc. of Laval,Quebec; Signature Aluminum Canada Inc. (formerly Bon L Canada Inc.) ofRichmond Hill, Ontario; Spectra Aluminum Products Ltd. of Bradford, Ontario;and Spectra Anodizing Inc. of Woodbridge, Ontario (collectively referred to as"the complainants" hereinafter). The complainants allege that the dumping andsubsidizing of the goods in question are harming Canadian production bycausing price erosion and suppression; lost sales, revenues and employment;and reduced market share, profitability, production and capacity utilization. Dumping occurs when goods are sold to importers in Canada at prices thatare less than their selling prices in the exporter's domestic market or atunprofitable prices. Subsidizing occurs when goods imported into Canadabenefit from foreign government financial assistance. The Special ImportMeasures Act protects Canadian producers from the damaging effects of suchunfair trade. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal will now begin a preliminaryinquiry to determine whether the imports are harming Canadian producers. TheTribunal will issue a decision by October 17, 2008. While the Tribunal isexamining the question of injury, the CBSA will investigate whether theimports are being dumped and/or subsidized and will make a decision byNovember 17, 2008. If there is a large increase in harmful imports and the Tribunal decidesthat the retroactive application of anti-dumping or countervailing duty isjustified, duty could be levied on the goods brought into Canada as of today.