CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Confidently Re-Invests in Domestic Manufacturing

Growth in Production and Jobs at Western Canada's Only Drywall Manufacturing Plants

MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 11, 2017 /CNW/ - Just over one year ago, CertainTeed Gypsum Canada filed an anti-dumping complaint against US dumped imports of drywall in Western Canada to establish fair competition for Canadian manufacturers and preserve Canadian jobs. Earlier this month on May 1, Western Economic Diversification Canada announced the Drywall Support Program. The program, which continues through May 31, provides relief to Western and Northern Canadian drywall contractors and builders as well as residents of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo following the duties imposed on US imported drywall.

The program follows a lengthy legal process which saw Canadian International Trade Tribunal issue findings on January 4, 2017 followed by recommendations on public interest issues and its Statement of Reasons on January 19. On February 27, the Minister of Finance announced his decision on the public interest issues and issued the Gypsum Board Products Anti-Dumping Duty Remission Order. The investigations, evaluations and findings of the CBSA and Canadian International Trade Tribunal for this complaint confirmed CertainTeed Gypsum Canada's case that there was significant US importer dumping at material dumping margins of 95 to over 200% which was injuring and threatening to domestic manufacturers.

"CertainTeed Gypsum Canada fully agrees with and supports the Minister's announcement of relief measures to support the Western drywall industry's transition to the duties," said Matt Walker, General Manager, CertainTeed Gypsum Canada. "We are especially pleased to see the measure to compensate users of drywall in the reconstruction of Fort McMurray after the terrible impact of the wildfires of last summer. We were the first to recommend a support program for Fort McMurray in October last year and are pleased to see this program help support those affected." In addition, CertainTeed fully supports the Minister's decision to assist Canadian contractors who are locked into long term contracts committed before September 2016. CertainTeed informed all its customers that it had filed its anti-dumping complaint in early May 2016 and advised that customers inform themselves on the process and the potential implications.

CertainTeed has maintained a strong commitment to Canada since 1929, and is the only manufacturer to have kept all Western Canadian plants and operations open, while US companies have closed theirs following the financial crisis in 2008 and downturn in the US housing market and construction activity. However, the viability of these operations and the jobs at these Western Canadian plants has been under significant threat over the last few years resulting in down shifting and job losses, due to the injury from US importer drywall dumping.

"Since the government's ruling for the imposition of duties on US imports, we have increased hiring at our Western plants and re-established shifts which were cut over recent years due to domestic share loss," said Walker. "We are rebuilding our Western operations to return to sustained drywall production and are confident that over the coming months we will be able to increase domestic supply to meet customer demand."

"During the case, CertainTeed Gypsum Canada appreciated the proactive and strong support of the Boilermakers Union. We are very happy that following the rulings of the case, we can now increase hiring at our Western plants for its members and re-establish shifts," said Walker.

As Canada's only remaining manufacturer of drywall in Western Canada, CertainTeed has demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in people, innovation and customers. CertainTeed Gypsum Canada has plants in Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg, and at two gypsum quarries in B.C. and Manitoba.

More information about eligibility and how to apply for the Drywall Support Program is posted on the Western Economic Diversification Canada website (http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/). CertainTeed encourages Western Drywall contractors to visit the website to understand eligibility and how they can apply for relief.

About CertainTeed

Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed, headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, has helped shape the building products industry for more than 110 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is a leading North American brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, drywall and ceilings.

A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the world's largest and oldest building products companies, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 5,700 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. The group had total sales of approximately $3.4 billion in 2016. www.certainteed.com

SOURCE CertainTeed

Victoria Gallagher, CertainTeed, [phone], [email protected], www.certainteed.com/pressroom