Anti-dumping probe: reinforcing bar imports

Summary#

The Canada Border Services Agency has opened an anti‑dumping investigation under the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) into certain concrete reinforcing bar thought to be dumped into Canada from Bulgaria, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) will do a preliminary inquiry and must decide within 60 days of the start of the investigation (the case was started on May 3, 2024).

What it does#

• Starts an investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency into alleged injurious dumping of certain concrete reinforcing bar originating in or exported from the Republic of Bulgaria, the Kingdom of Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
• Notes the subject goods are covered by specific tariff classification numbers (the full product definition is on the CBSA website).
• Directs the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) to hold a preliminary inquiry into whether there is a reasonable indication of injury; the CITT must decide within 60 days.
• Says if the CITT finds no reasonable indication of injury, the investigation will stop.
• Says a Statement of Reasons for the CITT decision will be issued within 15 days after the decision.
• Invites interested parties to file written submissions to the CBSA by email. To be considered, the CBSA must receive information by September 9, 2024.
• Explains that submitted information will be public unless clearly marked confidential; confidential submissions must also include a non‑confidential edited version.

Who's affected#

• Canadian makers of concrete reinforcing bar and other domestic steel producers — because the investigation is about injury to the Canadian industry.
• Importers, distributors and customs brokers who bring reinforcing bar into Canada from the named countries.
• Exporters and sellers of the product in the Republic of Bulgaria, the Kingdom of Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
• Construction companies and other buyers that use reinforcing bar could notice changes in supply, prices, or paperwork.

Why it matters#

• If the inquiry later finds dumping and injury, it could lead to trade remedies (for example, anti‑dumping duties or other import measures) that make imports more expensive or restricted. The notice does not say any duties are in place now.
• For importers and buyers, the investigation can increase uncertainty about price and availability while it proceeds.
• The CBSA is collecting evidence now; stakeholders who want to be heard must submit information by September 9, 2024.