MILLAR KREKLEWETZ LLP is a boutique Canadian law firm with lawyers who have significant expertise in customs and trade matters involving the imposition of anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties, and the application of Canada's Special Import Measures Act (SIMA).

The following is a short introduction to the imposition of anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, and the application of Canada's Special Import Measures Act (SIMA).

Anti-Dumping & Countervailing Duties 

under Canada's Special Import Measures Act (SIMA)

Overview of Anti-Dumping & Countervailing Duties

The Special Import Measures Act (“SIMA”), Canada ’s anti-dumping and countervailing legislation, protects Canadian manufacturers and producers from unfair competition from certain goods.  Specifically, these sources of unfair competition are from harm or injury caused by the dumping or subsidization of goods imported into Canada .

Dumping of goods occurs when goods are imported into Canada at a lower price that its “normal value” (i.e., generally, the price that the good is sold in its home market or at a price below total cost).  Subsidization of goods occurs when foreign governments give financial incentives, such as grants and tax incentives, to producers and manufacturers that allow them to export those goods into Canada at reduced prices.

Where it is established that goods imported are being dumped or subsidized, and that the dumping or subsidization has caused injury (or will cause injury) to a Canadian industry producing those goods, an anti-dumping or countervailing duty is imposed by the Canadian government, which is intended to increase the price of the goods to what they would be had there been no dumping or subsidization.  The procedure under SIMA for determining whether such duties are to be levied is divided into two stages.  The first stage is carried out by the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) and generally involves an investigation into whether dumping or subsidizing has occurred.  The second stage is an economic inquiry conducted by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (“CITT”) and determines whether the dumping or subsidizing is causing injury.

The balance of this article provides an overview to the two stages involved in the SIMA process.

Overview of the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) Process

Stage 1 – Finding of Dumping or Subsidizing

The SIMA process begins with the submission of a complaint to the Anti-dumping and Countervailing Directorate of the CBSA.  This complaint must be made by domestic producers representing 25% or more of the total Canadian production of the goods.  Further, the total production of Canadian producers in support of the complaint must be more than the total production of Canadian producers in opposition to the complaint.  

Where there is evidence that discloses a reasonable indication that goods have been dumped or subsidized that is causing injury to the Canadian industry, the CBSA will initiate an investigation by sending requests for further detailed information to importers, exporters, and where applicable, foreign governments.  Where dumping or subsidizing is found during the investigation, the CBSA will issue a preliminary determination, and provisional duties will be levied on dumped or subsidized imports until the end of the investigation (i.e., until a decision is given by the CITT).  These provisional duties are based on the estimated margin of dumping or amount of subsidy.  

In certain circumstances, and only before the CITT has issued a decision, the investigation may be suspended after a preliminary determination is issued if an undertaking has been given to the CBSA.  An undertaking is a written agreement entered into by the CBSA and exporters to increase the selling price of the subject goods to eliminate either the dumping or injury to Canadian production.  Where goods are subsidized by the foreign government, the undertaking must be entered into by that government to eliminate the subsidy or the injury caused by the subsidy.

Stage 2 – Finding of Material Injury Caused by Dumping or Subsidizing

After a preliminary determination is made that dumping or subsidizing exists, the CITT must determine if the dumped or subsidized goods are causing material injury (or will cause material injury) to the Canadian industry.  This is done by receiving representations and holding public hearings.  In determining whether the dumped or subsidized goods have caused material injury, the CITT will consider, among others, the impact of the goods on prices, profitability, and market share.  Other significant factors to this determination include the effect on cash flow, capacity utilization, employment, and inventories.  

Where the CITT finds that there the dumping or subsidizing is causing injury, anti-dumping or countervailing duties will be made payable on importations made after the date of the CITT’s decision.  If the CITT finds that there has been no injury caused by the dumping or subsidizing, then all provisional duties collected after the preliminary determination are refunded to the importer.  Where imports of the dumped goods have not caused injury, but are threatening to do so, duties will be levied only on goods imported after the date of the CITT’s decision, and any provisional duties paid on goods before that date are refunded.  

Findings by the CITT, and consequently the anti-dumping or countervailing duties imposed by those findings, expire in five years from the anniversary of their introduction.  However, a review may be initiated before the expiry to determine whether there is likely to be a continuation of dumping or subsidization causing material injury.  

Parties affected by the CITT’s decision, as well as by a finding of dumping or subsidization by the CBSA, may appeal the decision to the Federal Court of Appeal, or to a binational dispute settlement panel under NAFTA where the decision involves goods from Mexico or the United States.

Further Help with Anti-Dumping & Countervailing Duties

Millar Kreklewetz LLP is well-placed to provide assistances with all customs related matters, and persons facing issues involving Anti-Dumping & Countervailing Duties, or simply wishing to better understand their obligations under Canada's SIMA are encouraged to contact us for a 30 minute free consultation on the issues inherent in their files.

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