Canada: Comments requested on proposed changes to trade remedy system
Canadian producers and importers may want to comment on proposed changes to Canada's trade remedy system.
Comments requested on proposed changes to trade remedy system
The Department of Finance announced details of potential legislative and regulatory amendments to the trade remedy system—including to improve access for workers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Public consultations related to potential amendments to the trade remedy system were first announced in the 2021 federal budget.
Finance has requested comments from users of the trade remedy system and others affected by trade remedy duties. Comments are due by 26 September 2021.
Summary
Canadian producers can use the trade remedy system to request an investigation against specific countries whose exporters are allegedly selling dumped or subsidized goods into the Canadian market. When dumping or unfair subsidization has resulted in injury or threat of injury to an industry in Canada, anti-dumping or countervailing duties can be applied. In addition, the government can also impose safeguard measures where a surge in imports has caused, or threatens to cause, serious injury to the domestic industry.
Comments are requested by Finance regarding possible measures that would:
- Increase the participation and consideration of unionized workers in trade remedy proceedings
- Clarify the applicable standard to initiate anti-circumvention investigations
- Change the treatment of massive importations, including data collection, the applicable standard, and trade remedy complaint notification timeframes
- Streamline the expiry review process by automatically initiating expiry reviews before a trade remedy order expires
- Improve access for SMEs to Canada's trade remedy system
Read an August 2021 report prepared by the KPMG member firm in Canada
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