The Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) has made a positive preliminary decision of dumping with respect to low-priced Dutch sweet bell peppers being sold into the Canadian market. This investigation is taking place due to a complaint of injurious dumping, filed by the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG).

“We are very pleased that the CBSA has made a positive decision on this action,” said Len Roozen, Chair of OGVG. “This decision is another step forward for our membership which has experienced poor market returns due to the continuous dumping of Dutch peppers in Canada. As the inquiry continues, we expect the final decision of dumping will also be positive.”

This decision means that a temporary duty will be placed on imported Dutch bell peppers as the injury inquiry continues. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal will now begin an investigation into the extent of injury caused by the dumping of Dutch peppers, and will make its decision in 120 days.

Earlier this year, OGVG requested that the CBSA investigate the unfair pricing of greenhouse sweet bell pepper imports from the Netherlands. This was initiated due to Dutch exporters selling below their cost of production, at very low prices, into the Canadian marketplace. This has continued over a period of years and has caused serious injury to Ontario growers. OGVG’s concerns are shared by greenhouse producers in other provinces as well.

Canada’s Special Import Measures Act permits Canadian producers to seek the imposition of anti-dumping measures when they are injured by foreign producers selling into Canada below the selling prices in their own country, or below their costs of production.

Over the last ten years, Canadian growers have made substantial investments in greenhouse technology in order to expand the availability of Canadian grown vegetables, including sweet bell peppers. The Ontario greenhouse sector is now one of the largest in North America, producing over 1824 acres of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.

Source: www.freshplaza.com