Gypsum industry news

Canada: The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has ruled that gypsum wallboard dumping from the US exports has caused injury to the domestic industry. The ruling means that preliminary duties of up to 276% imposed by the Canada Border Services Agency on imports from the US in September 2016 end but will be replaced by permanent variable duties on any imports that fall below a floor price established in December 2016, according to the Canadian Press.

In a separate ruling the tribunal also found that provisional duties in Western Canada have 'substantially' reducing competition in those markets. It has recommended that the government consider refunding some of the duties paid so far to alleviate short-term pain for contractors and consumers, and that it consider a special remission of duties to residents of Fort McMurray.

CertainTeed Gypsum Canada complained to the Canada Border Services Agency about wallboard originating in the US being sold at 'unfair' prices and this led to an investigation in June 2016. However, CertainTeed Gypsum Canada may have benefitted from being the only Canadian manufacturer of wallboard in Western Canada following the introduction of provisional duties in September 2016.

The tribunal will issue the reasons for its findings and recommendations in both cases on 19 January 2017.

Canada: The federal government has asked for a faster review of anti-dumping tariffs on gypsum wallboard imports. However, the new schedule isn't expected to immediately reduce the duties, according to the Canadian Press. The Finance Department says it wants to help middle-class families in Western Canada, especially those involved in the reconstruction of Fort McMurray, Alberta following wildfires earlier in 2016 that destroyed large numbers of buildings.

"I am grateful to hear the federal government is responding to our concerns and the concerns of people across Fort McMurray with the recent ruling by Canada Border Services Agency that effectively closed Western Canada from imported drywall,'' said Brian Jean, the leader of the opposition Wildrose Party in a statement. He added that his party will continue to ask the government to suspend the tariff during its review or exempt wallboard coming into Fort McMurray from the tax.

In September 2016 the Canada Border Services Agency imposed preliminary tariffs of up to 277% cent on US gypsum wallboard imported into Canada for use in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Yukon and Northwest Territories. The agency said it was responded to a complaint by CertainTeed Gypsum Canada.

Canada: CertainTeed Gypsum Canada has defended its decision to complain about the dumping of gypsum wallboard from the US in terms of Canadian law and jobs. Following the complaint the Canada Border Services Agency imposed preliminary tariffs on US wallboard, which has led to rises in the prices of wallboard. Groups, including certain Canadian customers and Western Canadian Associations, have called for a boycott on CertainTeed products in response to the situation.

"We filed an Anti-Dumping Complaint because drywall manufacturers based in the US were exporting large and growing volumes of products into Western Canada in the last few years at prices materially lower than those at which they are sold in the US," said the wallboard producer in statement. It added that this kind of dumping creates material injury to domestic manufacturers in the form of share loss and price and margin suppression and that this is considered an unfair trade practice sanctioned through an offsetting duty or tariff under Canadian law.

CertainTeed Gypsum Canada went on to say that as a response to US 'dumping' it had to cut jobs in Western Canada and reduce investment in its plants, mines and business. It then reiterated that since the financial crisis in 2008 it had kept all of its Western Canadian plants and operations open, while US companies had closed theirs.

The producer has wallboard plants in Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg and mines in Windermere, British Colombia and Amaranth, Manitoba that supply those plants. It employs over 1000 workers in the country.

Canada: Wallboard prices have risen in western Canada following the implementation of antidumping tariffs of up to 277% on gypsum wallboard from the US. Builders and suppliers fear the ruling could disrupt the supply of the product for construction projects, including the rebuilding campaign in Fort McMurray in Alberta, according to the Canadian Press news agency.

The Canada Border Services Agency imposed preliminary tariffs on 6 September 2016 on US wallboard into Canada for use in British Colombia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. The provisional duty ranges from 125% on imports from CertainTeed Gypsum and Ceiling, 105% on Georgia-Pacific Gypsum, 144% on USG and 277% on all other importers.

Canada: The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has started an inquiry to determine whether the dumping of gypsum wallboard from the US has damaging effects on the local market. The inquiry follows an investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency. The tribunal will determine whether the dumping has caused injury or retardation or is threatening to cause injury to the domestic industry.

The tribunal is an independent quasi-judicial body that reports to the Canadian parliament through the Minister of Finance. It hears cases on dumped and subsidised imports, safeguard complaints, complaints about federal government procurement and appeals of customs and excise tax rulings. It can also offer advice on economic, trade and tariff matters.

Canada: The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has launched an investigation in whether gypsum wallboard from the US is being sold at 'unfair' prices in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as the Yukon and Northwest Territories. The investigation is the result of a complaint filed by CertainTeed Gypsum Canada. The complainant alleges that jobs, profits and productivity in Canada are being harmed by the sale of these goods.

The CBSA and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) will both play a role in the investigation. The CITT will begin a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the imports are harming the Canadian producer and will issue a decision by 8 August 2016. At the same time, the CBSA will investigate whether the imports are being sold in Canada at unfair prices, and will make a preliminary decision by 6 September 2016.

A national anti-dumping investigation into gypsum wallboard from the US was previously conducted by the CITT in 1992.