Chapter VI - Standing Textile Reference
Introduction
Pursuant to a reference from the Minister of Finance dated July 6, 1994, as last amended on October 27, 2005, the Tribunal is directed to investigate requests from domestic producers for tariff relief on imported textile inputs for use in their manufacturing operations and, in respect of those requests, to make recommendations to the Minister of Finance that would maximize net economic gains to Canada.
The terms of reference call for the Tribunal to report annually to the Minister of Finance on the investigation process. This chapter reports on the Tribunal's activities under the textile reference.
During fiscal year 2010-2011, the Tribunal received no requests for tariff relief and did not issue any reports to the Minister of Finance.
Scope of the Reference
A domestic producer may apply for tariff relief on an imported textile input used, or proposed to be used, in its manufacturing operations. The textile inputs on which tariff relief may be requested are the fibres, yarns and fabrics of Chapters 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59 and 60 of the schedule to the Customs Tariff; certain monofilaments or strips and textile and plastic combinations of Chapter 39; rubber thread and textile and rubber combinations of Chapter 40; and products of textile glass fibres of Chapter 70. The following yarns are not included in the textile reference:
Knitting yarns, solely of cotton or solely of cotton and polyester staple fibres, measuring more than 190 decitex, of Chapter 52 or subheading No. 5509.53 other than those used to make sweaters, having a horizontal self-starting finished edge and the outer surfaces of which are constructed essentially with 9 or fewer stitches per 2 centimetres (12 or fewer stitches per inch) measured in the horizontal direction.
Types of Relief Available
The tariff relief that may be recommended by the Tribunal to the Minister of Finance ranges from the removal or reduction of tariffs on one or several partial or complete tariff lines, textile- and/or end-use-specific tariff provisions. Except for exceptional circumstances, recommendations are not to include a gender-specific “end use”. The recommendation could be for tariff relief for either a specific or an indeterminate period of time.
Process
Domestic producers seeking tariff relief must file a request with the Tribunal. Along with their request, producers must file either samples of the textile input for which tariff relief is being sought or a National Customs Ruling from the CBSA covering the input. If the Tribunal determines that the request is properly documented, it will conduct an investigation to determine if it should recommend tariff relief.
Filing and Notification of a Request
Upon receipt of a request for tariff relief, and before commencement of an investigation, the Tribunal issues a brief electronic notice on its Web site announcing the request. The minimum period of time for the notification of a request before the start of an investigation is 30 days.
This notification is designed to increase transparency, identify potential deficiencies in the request, avoid unnecessary investigations, provide an opportunity for the domestic textile industry to contact the requester and agree on a reasonable domestic source of supply, inform other users of identical or substitutable textile inputs, prepare the domestic industry to respond to subsequent investigation questionnaires and give associations advance time for planning and consultation with their members.
Investigations
When the Tribunal is satisfied that a request is properly documented, it commences an investigation. A notice of commencement of investigation is sent to the requester, all known interested parties and any appropriate government department or agency, such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Department of Industry, the Department of Finance and the CBSA. The notice is also published in the Canada Gazette.
Interested parties include all persons whose rights or pecuniary interests may be affected by the Tribunal's recommendations. Interested parties are given notice of the request and can participate in the investigation.
To prepare a staff investigation report, the Tribunal's staff gathers information through such means as questionnaires and plant visits. Information is obtained from the requester and interested parties to determine whether the tariff relief sought will maximize net economic gains for Canada.
In most cases, a public hearing is not required and the Tribunal will dispose of the matter on the basis of written submissions, including the request, the staff investigation report and all submissions and evidence filed with the Tribunal. In cases where the written record is not sufficient to dispose of the matter, a public hearing is held.
The procedures for the conduct of the Tribunal's investigation envisage the full participation of the requester and all interested parties. A party, other than the requester, may file submissions, including evidence, in response to the properly documented request, the staff investigation report and any information provided by a government department or agency. The requester may subsequently file submissions with the Tribunal in response to the staff investigation report and any information provided by a government department, agency or other party.
Recommendations to the Minister of Finance
The Tribunal will normally issue its recommendations, with reasons, to the Minister of Finance within 100 days from the date of commencement of the investigation. In exceptional cases, where the Tribunal determines that critical circumstances exist, it will issue its recommendations within an earlier specified time frame.
Request for Review
Where the Minister of Finance has made an order for tariff relief pursuant to a recommendation of the Tribunal, certain domestic producers may ask the Tribunal to commence an investigation for the purpose of recommending the renewal, amendment or termination of the order. A request for the amendment or termination of the order should specify what changed circumstances justify the request.
Review on Expiry
Where the Minister of Finance has made an order for tariff relief subject to a scheduled expiry date, the Tribunal will, before the expiry date, issue a formal notice that the tariff relief provided by the order will expire unless the Tribunal issues a recommendation that tariff relief should be continued and the Minister of Finance implements the recommendation. The notice invites interested parties to file submissions for or against the continuation of tariff relief.
Summary of Activities
New Requests
2009-2010 | 2010-2011 | |
---|---|---|
Requests | ||
Received | - | - |
Withdrawn | - | - |
Awaiting the initiation of an investigation | - | - |
Investigations completed during the fiscal year | - | - |
Investigations in progress at end of the fiscal year | - | - |
Recommendations to the Minister of Finance | ||
Tariff relief | 2 | - |
No tariff relief | - | - |
Reports to the Minister of Finance | 2 | - |
Cumulative totals (since 1994) | ||
Requests received | 187 | 187 |
Recommendations to the Minister of Finance | ||
Tariff relief | 115 | 115 |
No tariff relief | 49 | 49 |
Effects
The implementation of Tribunal recommendations is made by adding new tariff items to the Customs Tariff or, occasionally, by issuing specific customs duty remission orders. The table at the end of this chapter provides a list of the recommendations implemented by the Government as of December 31, 2010.
It should be noted that some of the tariff items in the list differ from the tariff items as they were originally enacted to give effect to the Tribunal's recommendations under the standing textile reference. First, on November 21, 2005, as part of its implementation of the recommendations made by the Tribunal in Reference No. MN-2004-002, the Government put in place a new tariff structure that created a number of duty-free tariff items. In instances where these broader duty-free tariff items covered products that were already provided duty-free treatment by individual tariff items implemented under the standing textile reference, the latter individual tariff items were deleted from the Customs Tariff. Second, on December 13, 2006, at the same time as it implemented the Tribunal's recommendations in Reference No. MN-2005-001, the Government further modified the tariff structure to eliminate additional tariff items and to amend the existing wording to remove additional gender-specific or product-specific end-use requirements. Third, amendments to the Customs Tariff came into effect on January 1, 2007, to implement updates to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System by the World Customs Organization.
For the period from January 1 to December 31, 2010, the Tribunal estimates that the tariff items listed in the table at the end of this chapter covered imports worth about $170 million and provided tariff relief worth about $5.4 million. For the comparable period in 2009, these amounts were about $150 million and about $14.8 million respectively. The decrease in the value of tariff relief in 2010 is reflective of the reduction to zero of the Most-Favoured-Nation rate of duty for many of the broader tariff items from which the tariff items listed in the table at the end of this chapter were originally taken. These amendments came into effect on March 5, 2010, as part of government measures to eliminate duties on manufacturing inputs and machinery and equipment.
As stated earlier, textile inputs on which tariff relief may be requested are limited to 12 chapters of the Customs Tariff. From January 1 to December 31, 2010, tariff relief principally affected textile inputs falling in three chapters: Chapter 51 (“Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric”); Chapter 52 (“Cotton”); and Chapter 54 (“Man-made filaments; strip and the like of man-made textile materials”). The percentage of total imports accounted for by the imports benefiting from tariff relief, falling in these 12 chapters, ranged from 0 to 42.8 percent. Overall, approximately 0.71 percent of total imports falling in the 12 chapters benefit from tariff relief. The following table provides, for calendar year 2010, a distribution of the imports benefiting from tariff relief, by Customs Tariff chapter.
Percentage of Imports Benefiting From Tariff Relief by Customs Tariff Chapter
Chapter | Description | Percentage |
---|---|---|
39 | Plastics and articles thereof | - |
40 | Rubber and articles thereof | - |
51 | Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric | 42.76 |
52 | Cotton | 9.71 |
53 | Other vegetable textile fibres; paper yarn and woven fabrics of paper yarn | 3.88 |
54 | Man-made filaments; strip and the like of man-made textile materials | 12.62 |
55 | Man-made staple fibres | 5.46 |
56 | Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof | 0.57 |
58 | Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace; tapestries; trimmings; embroidery | 0.63 |
59 | Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use | 5.79 |
60 | Knitted or crocheted fabrics | 0.85 |
70 | Glass and glassware | 0.05 |
Weighted average | 0.71 | |
Source: Statistics Canada |
Tariff Relief Recommendations in Place
Request No./Review No. | Expiry No. (Original Request No.) |
Requester/Textile Input | Tariff Item No. as of December 31, 2010 |
---|---|---|---|
TR-94-001 | Canatex Industries (Division of Richelieu Knitting Inc.) | 5402.45.003 | |
TR-94-004 | Woods Canada Limited | 5208.52.30 | |
TR-94-010 | Palliser Furniture Ltd. | 5806.20.10 | |
TR-94-012 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5309.29.301 | |
TR-94-013 and TR-94-016 | MWG Apparel Corp. | 5208.42.911 5208.43.701 5208.49.911 5513.31.201 5513.39.113 |
|
TR-94-017 and TR-94-018 | Elite Counter & Supplies | 9943.00.00 | |
TR-95-003 | Landes Canada Inc. | 5603.11.20 5603.12.20 5603.13.20 5603.14.20 5603.91.20 5603.92.20 5603.93.20 5603.94.20 |
|
TR-95-004 | Lingerie Bright Sleepwear (1991) Inc. | 5208.12.202 5208.52.202 |
|
TR-95-005 | Lingerie Bright Sleepwear (1991) Inc. | 5513.11.911 5513.41.102 |
|
TR-95-009 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5408.21.401 5408.22.231 5408.22.911 |
|
TR-95-010 and TR-95-034 | Freed & Freed International Ltd. and Fen-nelli Fashions Inc. | 5111.19.10 5111.19.20 |
|
TR-95-011 | Louben Sportswear Inc. | 5408.31.401 5408.32.601 |
|
TR-95-012 | Perfect Dyeing Canada Inc. | 5509.32.10 | |
TR-95-013A | Doubletex | 5208.11.001 5208.12.40 5208.13.20 5208.19.30 5208.21.40 5208.22.20 5208.23.10 5208.29.20 5209.11.30 5209.12.20 5209.19.30 5209.21.20 5209.22.10 5209.29.20 |
|
TR-95-036 | Canadian Mill Supply Co. Ltd. | 5208.21.20 | |
TR-95-037 | Paris Star Knitting Mills Inc. | 5408.24.121 5408.24.921 5408.34.301 5516.14.201 5516.24.102 |
|
TR-95-051 | Camp Mate Limited | 5407.41.10 5407.42.10 5407.42.20 5903.20.22 |
|
TR-95-053 and TR-95-059 | Majestic Industries (Canada) Ltd. and Caulfeild Apparel Group Ltd. | 5802.11.201 5802.19.401 |
|
TR-95-056 | Sealy Canada Ltd. | 3921.19.20 5407.69.30 5407.73.10 5407.94.10 5516.23.10 5903.90.25 6005.34.20 |
|
TR-95-057 and TR-95-058 | Doubletex | 5407.51.10 5407.61.96 5407.69.10 5515.11.10 5516.21.10 5516.91.10 |
|
TR-95-060 | Triple M Fiberglass Mfg. Ltd. | 7019.59.10 | |
TR-95-061 | Camp Mate Limited | 6005.31.20 6005.32.20 6005.33.20 6005.34.30 |
|
TR-95-064 and TR-95-065 | Lady Americana Sleep Products Inc. and el ran Furniture Ltd. | 6005.34.60 6005.44.20 |
|
TR-96-003 | Venture III Industries Inc. | 5407.61.952 | |
TR-96-004 | Acton International Inc. | 5906.99.21 | |
TR-97-001 | Jones Apparel Group Canada Inc. | 5407.91.102 5407.92.202 5407.93.102 5408.21.401 5408.22.911 5408.23.911 5408.31.401 5408.32.601 5408.33.301 |
|
TR-97-002 and TR-97-003 | Universal Manufacturing Inc. | 5208.43.701 5513.41.202 |
|
TR-97-006 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5407.51.302 5903.90.222 5903.90.232 5903.90.242 6005.31.302 6005.31.402 6005.32.302 6005.32.402 6005.33.911 6005.34.402 6005.34.502 |
|
TR-97-004, TR-97-007, TR-97-008 and TR-97-010 | Blue Bird Dress of Toronto Ltd. | 5407.51.20 5407.52.20 5407.61.94 5407.69.20 |
|
TR-97-011 | Australian Outback Collection (Canada) Ltd. | 5209.31.20 5907.00.16 |
|
TR-97-012 | Ballin Inc. | 5407.93.30 5516.23.912 |
|
TR-97-014 | Lenrod Industries Ltd. | 5603.93.40 | |
TR-97-015, TR-97-016 and TR-97-020 | Helly Hansen Canada Ltd. | 5903.20.24 | |
TR-98-001 | Cambridge Industries | 5608.19.20 | |
TR-98-002 | Distex Inc. | 6006.23.10 | |
TR-98-004, TR-98-005 and TR-98-006 | Ladcal Investments Ltd. O/A Pintar Manufacturing, Nour Trading House and T.S. Simms and Company Limited | 5806.10.20 | |
TR-98-007 | Caulfeild Apparel Group Ltd. | 5208.43.701 | |
TR-98-016 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5407.93.202 | |
TR-98-017 | Jones Apparel Group Canada Inc. | 5408.32.601 5408.33.301 5408.34.301 |
|
TR-98-019 | Tribal Sportswear Inc. | 5209.12.101 5209.22.401 5209.32.102 |
|
TR-99-002 | Albany International Canada Inc. | 5404.19.003 | |
TR-99-003/003A | Western Glove Works Ltd. | 5209.31.30 5209.32.30 |
|
TR-99-004 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5112.11.501 5112.19.202 5112.19.302 |
|
TR-99-005 | Distex Inc. | 6006.22.20 | |
TR-99-006 | Coloridé Inc. | 5402.45.003 | |
TR-99-008 | JMJ Fashions Inc. | 5407.61.202 | |
TR-2000-001 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5408.22.231 | |
TR-2000-002 | Majestic Industries (Canada) Ltd. | 5802.19.401 | |
TR-2000-003 | Tantalum Mining Corporation of Canada Limited | 5911.40.10 | |
TR-2000-004 | Ballin Inc. | 5516.23.912 5516.93.002 |
|
TR-2000-005 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5112.11.501 5112.19.402 |
|
TR-2000-006 | Doubletex | 5512.11.30 5513.11.20 5513.12.10 5513.13.10 5514.11.10 5514.12.10 5514.19.103 9997.00.00 |
|
TR-2000-007 and TR-2000-008 | Scapa Tapes North America Ltd. | 5208.21.50 5208.31.20 |
|
TR-2001-001 | Gibson Textile Dyers | 5512.29.10 | |
TR-2001-002 | Beco Industries Ltd. | 5513.41.30 | |
TR-2002-001 | Richlu Manufacturing Ltd. | 5209.39.102 | |
TR-2002-002 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5602.10.202 | |
TR-2002-006 | C.S. Brooks Inc. | 5407.91.20 5513.11.30 |
|
TR-2002-007 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5408.22.911 5408.23.911 |
|
TR-2002-008 | Tribal Sportswear Inc. | 5515.11.202 | |
TR-2002-010/010A | Ballin Inc. | 5516.22.10 5516.23.912 |
|
TR-2003-001 | Tribal Sportswear Inc. | 5208.39.301 5209.32.402 5209.39.202 5209.52.102 5209.59.102 |
|
TR-2003-002 | Sunshine Mills Inc. | 5205.24.30 5205.26.001 5205.27.001 |
|
TR-2003-003 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5603.92.912 | |
TR-2003-004 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5903.90.232 | |
TR-2004-001 | Tricots Liesse (1983) Inc. | 5402.31.10 | |
TR-2006-001 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5407.61.97 | |
TR-2006-002 | Tricots Liesse (1983) Inc. | 5510.11.10 5510.30.10 |
|
TR-2007-001 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5603.93.70 | |
TR-2007-002 | Korhani Manufacture Inc. | 5402.34.10 | |
TR-2007-003 | Peerless Clothing Inc. | 5407.52.30 | |
TA-98-001 | TE-97-004 (TR-95-009) |
Dyed woven fabrics of rayon and polyester | 5408.31.401 5408.32.601 |
TA-98-002 | TE-97-003 (TR-94-009) |
Vinex FR-9B fabric | 5512.99.10 |
TA-98-003 | TE-98-001 (TR-95-014) |
Woven cut warp pile fabrics | 5801.35.10 |
TA-2003-001 | TE-2003-001 TE-2001-001 TE-98-002 (TR-94-002 and TR-94-002A) |
Ring-spun yarns | 5205.14.20 5205.15.001 5205.24.20 5205.26.001 5205.27.001 5205.28.001 5205.35.001 5205.46.001 5205.47.001 5205.48.001 5206.14.001 5206.15.001 5206.24.002 5206.25.001 5509.53.10 5509.53.202 5509.53.302 5509.53.402 |
1. Tariff item encompasses goods not covered in the original request as a result of the November 21, 2005, Order in Council. 2. Tariff item encompasses goods not covered in the original request as a result of the December 13, 2006, Order in Council. 3. Tariff item encompasses goods not covered in the original request as a result of the June 23, 2006, Order in Council, which came into effect on January 1, 2007. |