Expiry Review of oil country tubular goods

Summary#

This Canada Gazette issue collects several commission notices. The main item is that the Canadian International Trade Tribunal is starting an expiry review of its anti-dumping and countervailing order on certain oil country tubular goods from the People’s Republic of China. The issue also announces two procurement inquiries, a posting of many broadcast applications by the Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), and a permissive leave for Samuel Jude Johnston to run in a municipal election.

What it does#

• Starts an expiry review (Expiry Review No. RR-2019-005) of the Tribunal’s order that has targeted certain oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from China. The review follows the rules of the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA).
  • The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will first decide whether ending the order would likely lead to resumed dumping or subsidizing. The CBSA’s decision is due within 150 days of getting the notice, i.e. by July 6, 2020.
  • If the CBSA says dumping/subsidizing is likely, the Tribunal will then decide whether that would likely cause injury. The Tribunal must issue its order and reasons by December 11, 2020.
  • The Tribunal set a public hearing to start on October 1, 2020, at 9:30 a.m., in Ottawa, and set participation and counsel filing deadlines (see below).
• Announces that the Canadian International Trade Tribunal will open inquiries into two procurement complaints from Newland Canada Corporation about hotel contracts for the Department of National Defence in Cologne, Germany.
• Announces a procurement inquiry into a complaint from SoftSim Technologies Inc. about a contract by Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) for informatics services.
• Notes that the CRTC posts decisions and Part 1 broadcasting applications on its website and lists many applications and deadlines for public comment.
• Records that the Public Service Commission granted permission for Samuel Jude Johnston (a Correctional Service Canada deputy warden) to be a candidate in a municipal election.

Who's affected#

• Importers, manufacturers, and users of oil country tubular goods (casing and tubing) that meet API 5CT-type specifications — especially those dealing with product originating in or exported from China.
• The Canada Border Services Agency and companies that engage in anti-dumping/countervailing proceedings may need to participate or provide information.
• Bidders and contractors involved in the two contested Department of National Defence hotel procurements and the DFATD informatics procurement — specifically Newland Canada Corporation and SoftSim Technologies Inc., and potential competitors or bidders in those procurements.
• Broadcasters, cable/satellite providers, and community stations listed in the CRTC Part 1 application postings (who may have comment deadlines).
• Samuel Jude Johnston, his employer (Correctional Service Canada), and municipal candidates/officials in Miramichi, New Brunswick, because of the permission to run in the May 11, 2020 municipal election.

Why it matters#

• If the OCTG order is allowed to expire, duties on certain steel casing and tubing from China could be removed. That could lower costs for buyers who import those goods, but it could also affect Canadian producers if dumped or subsidized imports resume.
• Companies involved in the challenged procurements could see contract awards changed or re-evaluated; businesses that bid on similar federal contracts may watch the outcomes for how Canada evaluates bids.
• The CRTC postings give broadcasters and the public formal opportunities to comment on licence renewals or new services — this can affect local media services and channel availability.
• The Public Service Commission notice is a routine staffing permission that shows a public servant may run in a local election without stepping down immediately; it matters mainly to local voters and to workplace staffing plans.