CBSA launches anti-dumping case against steel plate from India, Russia

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont.—The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has initiated anti-dumping and countervailing investigations against steel plate from India Russia.

The move came following a complaint filed by Essar Steel Algoma Inc., a steel producer in in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

The CBSA will now determine whether imports of steel plate from India and Russia have been dumped into Canada and/or have benefited from countervailable subsidies. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) will conduct a parallel inquiry to determine whether these allegedly dumped and subsidized imports have caused material injury or threaten to cause material injury to the Canadian industry.

The investigation covers hot-rolled carbon steel plate and high-strength low-alloy steel plate originating in or exported from India and Russia. The investigations exclude, among other things, steel plate that is used to manufacture pipe and tube, floor plate and plate that is more than three inches thick.

Duties are expected to be imposed on September 8, 2015. However, duties could be applied retroactively to imports arriving after June 10, 2015.

CBSA is expected to issue preliminary anti-dumping findings on September 8. Its final determination should arrive within 90 days from that date.

As part of its separate inquiry into material injury, the CITT will issue their preliminary decision on August 10, 2015. A public hearing will follow in December 2015 and CITT will issue its final decision in early 2016.

If the CBSA determines that there has been dumping or subsidization, and the CITT determines that this has caused or is threatening to cause material injury to the domestic industry, final duties will be put in place for an initial period of five years.