Steel trade reviews and procurement inquiry

Summary#

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal published three short items: it opened an expiry review into duties on corrosion‑resistant steel sheet, agreed to hold an inquiry into a complaint by EBC Inc. about a federal construction‑management procurement, and continued an existing order on steel piling pipe from the People’s Republic of China. These actions affect trade enforcement and a specific government contract dispute.

What it does#

• Expiry review of corrosion‑resistant steel sheet

  • Starts Expiry Review RR-2023-008 on the Tribunal’s 2019 finding from inquiry NQ-2018-004 about dumping of corrosion‑resistant steel sheet.
  • Covers flat‑rolled carbon steel sheet (including small amounts of alloys: Boron ≤ 0.01%, Niobium ≤ 0.100%, Titanium ≤ 0.08%, Vanadium ≤ 0.300%), in coils or cut lengths, thickness up to 0.168 in. (4.267 mm) and width up to 72 in. (1,828.8 mm), originating in or exported from the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, the Republic of India and the Republic of Korea. Some products and uses are explicitly excluded (for example, certain automotive uses, stainless products, pre‑painted sheet).
  • The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will first decide if letting the finding expire would likely lead to resumed dumping. The CBSA must give that decision within 150 days, i.e. no later than June 13, 2024.
  • If CBSA says dumping would likely resume, the Tribunal will then decide whether the dumping would likely injure the Canadian industry and will issue its order and reasons no later than November 20, 2024.
  • Participation deadlines and schedule: Notices of participation and representation (Forms I, II and III) must be filed by January 30, 2024; the Tribunal will distribute the record on August 6, 2024; a public hearing is set to start September 9, 2024.

• Procurement inquiry into building construction management

  • The Tribunal accepted a complaint (file PR-2023-053) from EBC Inc. of L’Ancienne‑Lorette, Quebec, about a solicitation by the Department of Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC) (Solicitation EP938-231550 / EP938-231593).
  • The complaint alleges that PWGSC refused to consider information EBC supplied on time, breaching the rules that apply to the procurement. The Tribunal decided to conduct an inquiry on January 18, 2024.

• Continued order on steel piling pipe

  • On January 17, 2024, the Tribunal continued, without change, its order from Expiry Review RR-2022-005, preserving the finding from inquiry NQ-2012-002 (original finding date November 30, 2012) on dumped and subsidized carbon and alloy piling pipe from the People’s Republic of China.

Who's affected#

• Importers and exporters of the named steel products, especially shipments involving the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, the Republic of India, and the Republic of Korea.
• Canadian steel producers who make corrosion‑resistant sheet or piling pipe — they could keep receiving trade protection if the reviews support continued measures.
• Businesses that buy these steel products (manufacturers, construction firms, automotive suppliers) — they may see impacts on availability or price if duties or other measures remain.
• EBC Inc., PWGSC, and other firms that bid on the specific construction‑management procurement named (Solicitation EP938-231550 / EP938-231593) — the inquiry could affect that contract and how procurement rules are applied.
• It is unclear from the notice whether any specific ongoing contracts or projects beyond those named will be affected.

Why it matters#

• For buyers and builders: continued trade remedies on these steel products can mean higher import costs or reduced cheaper imports, which can affect project budgets and timelines.
• For Canadian producers: these reviews can preserve protection against imports found to be unfairly priced, helping to sustain domestic jobs and production.
• For companies bidding on government work: procurement complaints and inquiries shape how federal purchasing rules are enforced and can affect who wins contracts.
• For trade relations: expiry reviews and continued orders send signals to foreign exporters and to domestic users about whether past trade measures remain in force.