Duties on PET Resin and Steel Strapping

Summary#

• On September 15, 2025 and September 16, 2025, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) made trade enforcement decisions under the Special Import Measures Act.
• The CBSA found dumping and some subsidizing of imported polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin and made preliminary findings about steel strapping, and provisional duties are in place or continuing while the injury inquiries continue before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT).

What it does#

• PET resin (decisions on September 15, 2025):

  • The CBSA made final determinations that PET resin is being dumped from China and Pakistan, and subsidized from China.
  • The CITT is still deciding whether this dumping/subsidizing has injured the Canadian industry. The CITT is scheduled to issue its decision by October 15, 2025.
  • Provisional duties already in place on PET resin from those countries will continue until the CITT’s decision. If the CITT finds injury, anti‑dumping and/or countervailing duties will be applied to future imports.
  • The CBSA will publish a Statement of Reasons within 15 days after the decisions.

• Steel strapping (preliminary determinations on September 16, 2025):

  • The CBSA made preliminary findings of dumping of steel strapping from China, the Republic of Korea, Türkiye, and Vietnam, and of subsidizing from China.
  • Provisional duties apply to goods released from CBSA custody from September 16, 2025 until the matter is resolved or the CITT issues a finding.
  • The CITT has opened an inquiry to decide whether dumping/subsidizing has caused or threatens injury, and to consider other related matters.
  • The steel strapping covered is described by size: nominal width 9.5 mm to 50.8 mm and nominal thickness 0.38 mm to 1.12 mm (plus/minus tolerances).
  • The CITT set a deadline of October 1, 2025 for parties to file participation and representation forms, and it scheduled a hearing beginning December 15, 2025.

• Other tribunal action:

  • The Canadian International Trade Tribunal terminated an expiry review on September 18, 2025 and rescinded an existing order (originally made November 10, 2020) about dumped hot‑rolled carbon steel plate and high‑strength low‑alloy plate from Ukraine.

Who's affected#

• Importers and customs brokers dealing in:
  • PET resin from China and Pakistan.
  • Steel strapping from China, Republic of Korea, Türkiye, and Vietnam.
• Canadian manufacturers that use PET resin (for example, bottle and packaging makers) and users of steel strapping (shipping, palletizing, logistics).
• Domestic resin and steel producers who brought the complaints or compete with imports.
• Parties that might want to participate in the CITT inquiry (deadline October 1, 2025) and stakeholders planning to appear at the hearing (starting December 15, 2025).
• The public indirectly, through possible price or supply changes for products that use these materials.

Why it matters#

• Provisional duties can increase costs for imports released into Canada now. That can raise input costs for businesses that use PET resin or steel strapping.
• If the CITT later finds that dumping or subsidizing caused injury, permanent anti‑dumping or countervailing duties could apply to future imports, changing the competitive landscape for Canadian manufacturers and importers.
• The tribunal’s rescinding of the Ukraine order means that a previous trade remedy on certain steel plate has been removed, which may affect suppliers and buyers for that product.
• These determinations affect supply chains (packaging, manufacturing, transport) and could influence prices, sourcing decisions, and contracts for affected businesses.