Provisional Duties on PET Resin Imports

Summary#

On June 17, 2025, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) made preliminary findings under the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) that certain polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin from China and Pakistan is being dumped, and that PET from China is subsidized. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) will now hold a full inquiry and provisional duties are payable on affected shipments released from CBSA custody.

What it does#

• Announces preliminary determinations of dumping for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin originating in or exported from China and Pakistan.
• Announces a preliminary determination of subsidizing for PET resin originating in or exported from China.
• Applies provisional duties on subject goods released from the CBSA during the period starting June 17, 2025, until the investigations end, the CITT makes a decision, or an undertaking is accepted.
• Lists the main tariff classification numbers that cover the goods: 3907.61.00.00, 3907.69.00.10, 3907.69.00.80, 3907.69.00.90 (these codes include subject and non‑subject goods).
• States the CITT will carry out a full injury inquiry and must make an order or a finding no later than 120 days after it receives notice of these preliminary determinations.
• Says the CBSA will publish a Statement of Reasons within 15 days and that it will be available on its website.

Who's affected#

• Importers and shippers who bring PET resin into Canada — they may face provisional duties and related paperwork when goods are released by CBSA.
• Canadian manufacturers that use PET resin (for example, makers of bottles, packaging, and some textile products) — they may see cost or supply impacts.
• Exporters and producers in China and Pakistan whose shipments are identified in the determinations.
• Customs brokers, warehouses, and logistics businesses that handle affected shipments.
• It is not clear from the notice which specific companies or exact volumes are affected; the tariff codes cover both subject and non‑subject goods.

Why it matters#

• Provisional duties can increase the up‑front cost of bringing PET resin into Canada. That can raise costs for firms that rely on this material and possibly affect prices for products that use PET.
• The full CITT inquiry could lead to final orders that change how PET resin imports are treated long term. This can affect competition between domestic producers and foreign suppliers.
• The action signals enforcement of Canada’s trade-remedy rules under SIMA. The CBSA’s upcoming Statement of Reasons will provide more detail about the evidence behind the decisions.