The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is ruling that barriers to cheap American drywall imports into Western Canada must continue.
Preliminary duties of up to 276 per cent imposed last September are blamed by industry for price increases of 30 to 50 per cent on the construction material used extensively in commercial and residential buildings.
The tribunal ruled Wednesday that American imports dumped in Canada have injured the Canadian industry. Its ruling means preliminary duties will be replaced with variable duties to be charged on imports that fall below a floor price established by the Canada Border Services Agency last month.
The duties were opposed by American drywall exporters and by the Canadian construction industry, but supported by CertainTeed Gypsum Canada – the only remaining manufacturer of drywall in Western Canada and the company that lodged the dumping complaint.
CertainTeed had warned that allowing U.S. imports to continue into Canada at prices lower than in their home markets could lead to it closing its three Western Canada drywall plants and two gypsum quarries at a loss of more than 200 jobs. It says it has hired 30 new employees since the duties were imposed.
Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake has asked the federal government to offer grants to help property owners recover increased costs related to the drywall duties as they rebuild parts of the northern Alberta city destroyed by fire last spring.
Source: Theglobeandmail.com
