Ottawa, Ontario
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has initiated an investigation into potential circumvention of Canada's trade remedy measures on container chassis. These measures play an essential role in maintaining fair competition for Canadian industries and protecting jobs by countering unfair pricing practices in international trade.
The investigation will examine whether container chassis imported from Vietnam are circumventing a Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) finding on the dumping and subsidizing of container chassis from China. The allegation, made by Max-Atlas International Inc. of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, suggests that key components originating in China are being used to assemble or complete these goods in Vietnam, potentially avoiding duties applied under the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA).
Canada's trade remedy system is designed to ensure that imported goods are priced fairly relative to domestic products. Circumvention of these duties undermines this system, creating an uneven playing field for Canadian businesses and workers. The CBSA's investigation will determine whether these imports contravene existing trade protections.
The CBSA will make a decision by May 23, 2025. If it is determined that the imports are circumventing the CITT's finding, the CBSA will inform the CITT who will amend its finding to extend anti-dumping and countervailing duties to the goods.
Currently, there are 158 special import measures in force in Canada, covering a wide variety of industrial and consumer products, from steel products to refined sugar. These measures directly help protect approximately 31,000 Canadian jobs and $11.6 billion in Canadian production.
