Costco appeal over Novaform foam pad

Summary#

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal will hold a public videoconference hearing on February 13, 2025 to consider an appeal under the Special Import Measures Act. The appeal (No. EA-2024-002) is between Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. and the President of the Canada Border Services Agency, and focuses on whether a specific foam lounge pad falls under an earlier anti‑dumping and subsidy finding.

What it does#

• Sits as an appeal hearing under the Special Import Measures Act to decide if a product is covered by a previous Tribunal finding.
• Considers whether the Novaform Versamat Portable Foam Lounge Pad is the same kind of good as those covered by inquiry NQ-2022-001 (the Tribunal’s finding about dumping and subsidizing of certain mattresses from the People's Republic of China).
• Hearing is public and will be held by videoconference.
• People who want to attend must register with the Canadian International Trade Tribunal at least two business days before the hearing by calling 613‑993‑3595 or emailing citt-tcce@tribunal.gc.ca.

Who's affected#

• Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. (the appellant) and the President of the Canada Border Services Agency (the respondent).
• Importers, distributors or retailers of the Novaform Versamat Portable Foam Lounge Pad.
• Other mattress and foam-product sellers who sell similar goods imported from the same source country.
• Consumers could notice changes if duties or enforcement affect prices or availability.

Why it matters#

• If the Tribunal decides the lounge pad is covered by the earlier finding (NQ-2022-001), the product could be treated the same way as the mattresses named in that finding — for example, it could become subject to anti‑dumping or countervailing measures already in place for those goods.
• That outcome could raise costs for importers and retailers, and those costs might be passed to shoppers.
• The hearing is a chance for interested parties and the public to follow or participate in the process; registration is required to attend.