Federal drywall tariff pumps up prices across western Canada
by Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
The tariffs add up to 276 per cent to the price of U.S. gypsum board imported for use in B.C., Alberta, Sask., Manitoba and the Yukon and N.W.T.
VICTORIA—Drywall prices across Western Canada have shot through the roof after the federal government imposed preliminary anti-dumping tariffs of up to 276 per cent on gypsum board products imported from the United States.
Builders and suppliers fear the ruling could disrupt the supply of the boarding used in walls and ceilings and threaten the completion of residential, commercial and public projects. The tariffs also risk bankrupting contractors who operate under fixed-priced contracts.
A spokesman for Canada’s largest independent gypsum supplier said the tariffs undermine the stability of the industry and could impact the rebuilding efforts in Fort McMurray, where thousands of buildings were destroyed by fire earlier this year.
“If we can’t get enough material to ship into the province of Alberta then as Fort McMurray stands, it would be affected like everybody else,” said Doug Skrepnek, chief executive officer at WSB Titan in a telephone interview from Vaughan, Ont.
He said the surprise decision on tariffs hammered the industry.
“On Sept. 6 we went from understanding there may be a tariff…and that tariff will add between 50 and 60 per cent, depending upon the market, price increase to our customers,” said Skrepnek, whose company supplies one in every six sheets of drywall used in Canada.
The Canada Border Services Agency imposed preliminary tariffs last Tuesday on U.S. gypsum board imported into Canada for use in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
A CBSA statement issued Tuesday said Canadian producers have legislated rights to seek protection from dumped imports by way of duties.
“Following a complaint filed on April 18, 2016, by CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Inc. of Mississauga, Ont., the CBSA initiated an investigation on June 6, 2016,” said the statement. “The CBSA made a preliminary determination of dumping on September 6, 2016 and provisional duties were imposed at that time to offset the dumping.”
No one from CertainTeed Gypsum Canada was not immediately available for comment.
Skrepnek said CertainTeed has gypsum production plants in Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg, but the operations are only able to supply between 40 and 60 per cent of the building needs in Western Canada.
The limited supply of CertainTeed gypsum in Western Canada is one reason why U.S. product is imported into Canada, he said.
The CBSA decision is under review for the next three months, but the import duty will remain until a final decision is made, Skrepnek said.
“It is my hope and my desire someone listens and realizes there are thousands of people who really can’t wait 90 days for someone to realize this is a massive issue that needs to be dealt with today,” he said.
