The CBSA launches investigations into the alleged dumping of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin from China and Pakistan and its subsidization by China

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Canada Border Services Agency

Mar 19, 2025, 13:00 ET

OTTAWA, ON, March 19, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that it is initiating investigations to determine whether polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin originating in or exported from China and Pakistan is being sold at unfair prices in Canada and whether PET resin originating in or exported from China is being subsidized. These practices can harm Canadian industries by undercutting Canadian prices, which undermines fair competition.

The CBSA is investigating because of a complaint filed with the CBSA by Compagnie Alpek Polyester Canada (Alpek). Alpek alleges that as a result of an increase in the volume of the dumped and subsidized imports, they have suffered material injury in the form of price undercutting, price depression, lost sales, lost market share, reduced net income and profitability, and reduced employment. 

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 May 16, 2025. Concurrently, the CBSA will investigate whether the imports are being sold in Canada at unfair prices and/or are being subsidized, and will make a preliminary decision by June 17, 2025.

Currently, there are 158 special import measures in force in Canada, covering a wide variety of industrial and consumer products. These measures have directly helped to protect approximately 31,000 Canadian jobs and $11.6 billion in Canadian production.

Quick facts

  • Canada's trade remedy system is designed to ensure that imported goods are priced fairly relative to domestic products. To counteract unfair trade practices, the CBSA has the authority under the Special Import Measures Act to initiate investigations if a complaint is properly documented and impose trade remedy measures when there is evidence that dumping or subsidizing is causing or threatens to cause injury to Canadian producers.
  • The subject goods are PET resin originating in or exported from China and Pakistan. For more product information, please refer to the CBSA's Anti-dumping and countervailing webpage.
  • The only Canadian producer of PET resin subject to these investigations is Compagnie Alpek Polyester Canada (Montreal, QC).
  • The Canadian market of imports for PET resin has been estimated to be approximately $193 million in 2023 and $185 million in 2024.
  • A statement of reasons, with additional details about the investigations, will be available on the CBSA's website within 15 days from the date the investigations are launched.

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SOURCE Canada Border Services Agency

Contacts: Media Relations (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/media-eng.html) Canada Border Services Agency, [email protected], 613-957-6500 or 1-877-761-5945

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Canada Border Services Agency