Canadian Coalition for Construction Steel Welcomes Decision by Canadian International Trade Tribunal Rejecting Steel Safeguards

TORONTO, April 11, 2019 /CNW/ - The Canadian Coalition for Construction Steel (CCCS) welcomes the release by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (the Tribunal) of its report and recommendations that Canada should not continue safeguard measures (tariffs or quotas) on imported rebar and calls on the government to carefully review the Tribunal's report and give fair consideration to the Tribunal's recommendations.

The CCCS would also like to express its collective thanks to the Tribunal for managing a very complex inquiry involving 119 participants and over 38,000 pages of documents in only a few short months, and ensuring that views of important industry stakeholders were heard and considered. The CCCS participated extensively in the Tribunal's inquiry, providing the Tribunal with crucial evidence about the state of the Canadian construction market and health of the domestic steel industry that the CCCS argued was not injured or threatened with injury from imports. Members of the CCCS appeared as witnesses before the Tribunal and gave evidence about the negative effects that continued tariffs and quotas would have on the Canadian construction industry and its tens of thousands of workers ? the largest sector of middle class workers in Canada.

The Government has until May 13, 2019 to decide whether to accept or reject the Tribunal's recommendations. The CCCS is expecting the Minister of Finance to give fair and careful consideration to the Tribunal's detailed analysis and recommendations. Members of the CCCS are committed to the health of the Canadian construction industry and to delivering critical public infrastructure projects on time and on budget to Canadian taxpayers. The continuation of exceptional quotas and tariffs on fairly traded steel imports would harm the Canadian construction sector and the thousands of Canadian workers it employs.

CCCS members remain key partners and customers of the Canadian steel industry and continue to support the Canada's efforts to stand up to the illegal and unfair U.S. section 232 tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. CCCS members have always been strong partners with the domestic steel industry, and that has not changed. They look forward to working together with steel producers and the government to end U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel.

About the CCCS

The CCCS represents major users, suppliers, fabricators, service centres, and importers of construction steel from across Canada. The CCCS is supported by national and provincial construction associations, engineering companies, builders, trade associations, and labour unions, which depend on the timely, adequate, and affordable supply of steel for a sustainable Canadian construction sector.

SOURCE Canadian Coalition for Construction Steel