International Trade committee  I believe there is nothing that would, from an industry perspective, be consequential. The United States is the principal market for our exports. I wouldn't know offhand of anything similar. I'm sure that they're out there. I'm sure that they're on other commodities. I can report back, but I wouldn't know offhand.

International Trade committee  I would highlight that China has initiated WTO proceedings against the United States and Europe, and Canada has registered itself as sort of a participant to that process. It's important that Canada show a tremendous solidarity with the United States and the European Union as we move through this.

International Trade committee  I mentioned it in my remarks briefly, and I'll expand on it. We've had, from the previous administration through to the Trump administration, a tremendous ongoing dialogue with the U.S. around how to effectively identify and prevent dumping and subsidy behaviour. We know that this is the number one trade irritant for the United States.

International Trade committee  Yes, the changes that were implemented as part of the 2016 budget extended timelines for reinvestigation. Functionally, judgments in place lasted another 10 months. It was largely an administrative streamlining that extended judgments once they had been made, so it was certainly consequential in keeping judgments in place for an extended period of time.

International Trade committee  The competition for investment in steel for our producers [Inaudible—Editor] is quite intense. Anything that can be done to attract that is certainly appreciated. Steel is a facilitator industry. Having local, domestic steel supply is demonstrable as a key to the larger value-added manufacturing chain.

International Trade committee  Most of the mills are still Canadian. The mills in Canada for the most part are subsidiaries of international corporations.

International Trade committee  Yes, there was heavy consolidation in the industry about eight years ago. The notable exception would be Stelco now re-emerging from CCAA.

International Trade committee  Thank you very much. Good afternoon to the honourable members of the committee. Thank you very much for the opportunity to present today on behalf of the Canadian Steel Producers Association. The CSPA is the national voice of Canada's $14-billion primary steel production industry.

Finance committee  Those are highly technical projects. It depends on where that ship is being built and the level of plate that's required. I know that Essar Steel Algoma, for instance, in Sault Ste. Marie, was initially supplying plate for some of the shipbuilding in the Maritimes. I believe that one of our members in western Canada, EVRAZ, from Regina, is supplying plate to the western shipbuilding initiative.

Finance committee  I can tell you that there is certainly interest, and we've had briefings with Public Works and with the shipbuilders responsible for those projects, and with DND about the specifications. If there is an opportunity even to make an investment in facilities, our producers have demonstrated that they're willing to move to make that investment so long as it makes economic sense.

Finance committee  That's fair, and I certainly wouldn't presume to comment on the drywall—the gypsumboard issue—because it has nothing to do with steel. From a steel perspective, and this goes to rebar, our concern is not with fair trade. Our concern is with product that is dumped and subsidized by foreign governments; that puts Canadians out of work.

Finance committee  Yes. Without knowing the nature of this steel that's in question, China's overcapacity has devastated the global steel industry, and it is a truly global problem. It's come up at the G20, and it's something that all nations are addressing. The duties are set through a long process of investigation by the CBSA and the CITT where they determine injury to the Canadian vendor of a similar products.

Finance committee  I'm sorry. It's a delicate act to try to get it in and do the five minutes.

Finance committee  Absolutely. Nine separate policy statements address steel expansion in China, while at the same time their production capacity has increased in total by roughly a billion metric tons annually. With this in mind, we believe the Government of Canada should move very quickly to strengthen Canada's domestic trade remedy system through legislative amendments, which we believe should be included in budget 2017.

Finance committee  Thank you very much. Good afternoon, honourable members of the committee. On behalf of our association, I thank you for the opportunity to present to you today as part of your study on budget 2017. The Canadian Steel Producers Association is the national voice of Canada's $14-billion primary steel production industry.