Canada probes Turkish pasta dumping claims
The CBSA is investigating a complaint filed by members of the Canadian Pasta Manufacturers Association (CPMA) that dry wheat pasta (DWP) originating in or exported from Turkey is being sold at unfair prices in Canada.
It is also looking into whether subsidies are being applied to these products.
In its announcement, the CBSA did not disclose the names of the companies alleged to be moving the Turkish pasta to Canada.
Products under investigation
The products are described as dry wheat-based pasta, not stuffed or otherwise prepared, and not containing more than 2% eggs, whether or not enriched, fortified, organic, whole wheat or containing milk or other ingredients, originating in or exported from Turkey, excluding refrigerated, frozen or canned pasta.
Harming Canadian pasta producers
The probes follow a complaint from three CPMA members — Italpasta of Brampton, Ontario, Toronto-based Primo Foods and Montreal-area processor Grisspasta Products — that produce pasta made from Canadian drum wheat.
They allege, because of price undercutting from Turkey, the Canadian industry faces lost production and sales, a price depression, loss of employment and reduced profitability.
As such, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has concurrently launched a preliminary injury inquiry to determine whether the imports are harming Canadian producers.
The CITT is expected to rule by February 28, while the CBSA will release its preliminary findings on March 28.
If CBSA’s preliminary findings warrant a full probe, the agency expects to make its final determinations by June 26.
Not the first complaint
Canada currently has 98 special import measures in force, covering a variety of industrial and consumer products – from sugar to steel – although there are no existing antidumping or countervailing duty orders against dry pasta.
However, this is the second time the country has launched investigation of this sort. In 1995, Italy was implicated in a DWP antidumping case, although it ended with a no injury and no threat of injury decision.
