Canadian Border Services launches investigations into pasta imported from Turkey

The investigations are the result of a complaint filed by the Canadian Pasta Manufacturers Association (CPMA) of Ottawa, Ontario. The complainant alleges that as a result of price undercutting from Turkey, Canadian industry faces lost production, lost sales, price depression, loss of employment, and reduced profitability.

OTTAWA -- The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that it is launching an investigation into whether or not certain dry wheat pasta (DWP) originating in or exported from the Republic of Turkey (Turkey) is being sold at unfair prices in Canada. It will also investigate whether or not subsidies are being applied to certain DWP originating in or exported from Turkey.

Also read, Canadian grocers address role in industry-wide bread price-fixing.

The subject goods are described as all dry wheat-based pasta, not stuffed or otherwise prepared, and not containing more than two percent eggs, whether or not enriched, fortified, organic, whole wheat or containing milk or other ingredients, originating in or exported from the Republic of Turkey, excluding refrigerated, frozen or canned pasta.

The investigations are the result of a complaint filed by the Canadian Pasta Manufacturers Association (CPMA) of Ottawa, Ontario. The CPMA comprises three members that manufacture certain DWP in Canada, namely Italpasta Limited, Primo Foods Inc. and Grisspasta Products Ltd. The complainant alleges that as a result of price undercutting from Turkey, Canadian industry faces lost production, lost sales, price depression, loss of employment, and reduced profitability.

The CBSA and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) both play a role in the investigations. The CITT will begin a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the imports are harming Canadian producers and will issue a decision by February 26, 2018.

Concurrently, the CBSA will investigate whether the imports are being sold in Canada at unfair and/or subsidized prices, and will make a preliminary decision by March 28, 2018.

Currently, there are 98 special import measures in force, covering a wide variety of industrial and consumer products, from steel products to refined sugar. These measures have directly helped to protect the Canadian economy and jobs in Canada.

A copy of the Statement of Reasons, which provides more details about these investigations, will be available on the CBSA's website within 15 days.

SOURCE Canada Border Services Agency