Evraz applauds CBSA probe into alleged line pipe dumping

Evraz North America is applauding the Canada Border Services Agency for announcing it is initiating an investigation into Evraz’s allegations of dumping and subsidization of large diameter (greater than 24-inch diameter) welded line pipe products from China, as well as dumping by Japan.

“The support of the Canadian government regarding unfair trade complaints like ours is critical,” said Conrad Winkler, president and CEO of Chicago-based Evraz North America.

“Evraz, and specifically our steel operations in Camrose, Alta., and Regina, continue to be detrimentally impacted by the flood of unfairly traded line pipe imports into Canada,’’ Winkler said. “We are eager to compete globally on a level playing field based on actual economics and capabilities, not government subsidies and dumping practices.”

Evraz, which has produced line pipe in Canada for nearly six decades is the only manufacturer able to produce “100-per-cent, made-in-Canada, large-diameter line pipe,” and provides more than 1,800 Canadians with high-paying jobs, the company said.

“Unfortunately, our employment numbers have decreased approximately 25 per cent over the past two years due to today’s difficult commodity price environment and unfairly traded imports,” said Winkler.

“We continually invest in our operations, and research and development to ensure the quality and safety of our product. However, unfairly traded and subsidized imports present significant challenges,” Winkler said, adding the company will continue to monitor import volumes to ensure that duties are applied retroactively to the initiation date of CBSA’s investigation.

Evraz North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Evraz plc. The company is a leading North American producer of engineered steel products for rail, energy and industrial end markets.

Evraz has six production sites in the U.S., at Portland, Ore. and Pueblo, Colo., and in Canada, at Regina and Calgary, Camrose and Red Deer, Alta.