Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti urged the federal government Wednesday to adopt a new trade policy to ensure fair trade for Canadian steel workers.
He said the current federal trade remedy system is antiquated and must be changed. “It’s more than 20 years old, it’s outdated. This system does not reflect the global realities of trade today,” Orazietti said.
He called on Ottawa to immediately embrace the Trade Remedy Modernization plan as outlined by the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) during a press conference Wednesday afternoon at his constituency office while flanked by local industry stakeholders, including union and company representatives from Essar Steel Algoma and Tenaris Algoma Tubes Algoma, as well as reps from retiree groups.
The modernization plan supported by steel producers seeks more transparency and accountability by companies that export steel to Canada.
“We also have other issues around the length of time it takes for these rulings to occur.”
Dumping continues while workers and businesses in Canada suffer, Orazietti said. “So we need a more timely process.”
Although both the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) and the Canadian Border Services have determined steel dumping has taken place, the CITT found no harm had been done to the steel industry, and in particular to Essar Steel, Orazietti noted.
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