OTTAWA – Following compelling evidence presented by United Steelworkers (USW) members on the impact of foreign steel dumping, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) is imposing significant duties on certain exports from China, India, South Korea and Taiwan.
The CITT has ruled that the continued dumping of corrosion-resistant steel products from the four Asian countries poses a significant threat to Canadian steel producers and workers. The majority of the products in question will be subject to duties ranging from 33% to 53% over the next five years, the tribunal has decided.
The CITT ruling follows submissions made to the tribunal by USW representatives in December and January.
“The harm to workers and communities from massive dumping of cheap, illegally subsidized foreign steel into our country is very real,” said Gary Howe, President of USW Local 1005, representing 600 workers at Stelco operations in Hamilton.
“The result of these illegal practices – the suppression of prices, the loss of market share and lower production – flows down to Canadian workers and their families,” said Howe, who testified before the CITT.
The Hamilton plant was previously hit by layoffs and continues to run well under capacity, Howe noted, adding that if the dumping in question went unchecked, it would threaten plans to increase production at the facility.
USW members from steel plants across the country have been testifying before federal trade officials over the last year about the real impacts of foreign steel dumping and other unfair trade practices.
In a separate ruling earlier this month, the CITT agreed with evidence from USW members that Canadian workers and companies were being harmed by illegal dumping of steel pipe from Vietnam, Pakistan, Turkey and the Philippines. The tribunal imposed significant duties on those offending producers – ranging from 46% to 66% for five years.
“The livelihoods of Canadian families are profoundly affected when unfairly traded products are dumped into our country,” said USW National Director Ken Neumann.
“It affects the ability of Canadian workers to negotiate fair collective agreements. It affects the ability of Canadian workers to keep their jobs. It results in layoffs and in plant closures. It makes it much more difficult for tens of thousands of workers and retirees across Canada to preserve their pensions and benefits,” Neumann said.
The impact of foreign dumping on Canadian manufacturers and workers continues to be exacerbated by the illegal U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum, Neumann added.
“The baseless U.S. tariffs on our steel and aluminum products are the key problem facing Canadian workers, producers and communities,” he said.
“Rather than take a clear stand from the beginning, that it would not sign nor ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement unless the U.S. tariffs were lifted, the Canadian government has allowed this problem to endure far too long.”
Ken Neumann, USW National Director, 416-544-5951
Gary Howe, USW Local 1005 President, 905-531-4078, gary.howe@uswa1005.ca
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications (Toronto), 416-544-5966, 416-434-2221, bgallagher@usw.ca
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