Martin applauds Chinese steel dumping investigation

NEWS RELEASE

TONY MARTIN, MP

*************************** Investigation of Chinese steel dumping good for Canada, steelworkers: Martin

SAULT STE. MARIE - (August 26) - The investigation announced by the federal government into unfair steel imports from China will hopefully level the playing field for Canadians and their steelworkers, says Tony Martin who has raised the issue with federal ministers and the all-party Steel Caucus.

The investigation means that the Canada Border Services Agency will examine the dumping and subsidizing of oil-country tubular goods from China into the Canadian market.

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal will also examine the injury that these practices have done to Canadian producers.

In a December 2007 letter to Tenaris Algoma Tubes, Martin wrote: “As a business, you have a right to an even playing field and to protect your workers and interests here in Canada.

“I support the private member’s bill by Ms. Bourgeois that sets out the conditions required for determining whether domestic prices in a country are substantially set by the government of that country and there is sufficient reason to believe that they are not substantially the same as they would be if they were determined in a competitive market.”

Martin also supports the Steelworkers’ call for a legal reform in keeping with American trade law that would allow Canadian workers and their unions it to participate in this investigation.

This is currently outlawed.

“If they find what we suspect they will, this investigation should lead to remedial duties on Chinese imports to balance the advantage created by dumping and/or subsidies,” Martin said.

The Chinese dumping issue was also on the agenda earlier in 2007 when Martin brought seven MPs in the all-party Steel Caucus here.

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