Michael J. Knell — Furniture Today
CITT reviews claims

OTTAWA — The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has sent a questionnaire to Canadian furniture manufacturers seeking more information before deciding whether to investigate claims that the rapid rise of Chinese imports has done material harm to the industry.

The survey has been sent to all members of Furniture West, the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn. and the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Assn. It seeks detailed data on a variety of case goods and upholstered furniture categories.

The three factory associations have retained the accounting and management consulting firm Ernst & Young to assist manufacturers in completing the survey.

Surveys must be returned soon to Vincent Routhier of Montreal-based Fasken Martineau, a law firm specializing in international trade and other business matters.

Routhier is the Canadian Council of Furniture Manufacturers’ lead counsel on the China imports issue. In October, the CCFM, which represents the three factory groups, petitioned the CITT to impose safeguard tariffs on Chinese furniture imports for three years to give the industry time to adjust to a new trading environment.

“It’s vitally important that all association members complete the survey and return it as soon as possible,” said OFMA President David Hanna. “The information provided will help determine whether the CITT continues on to the next stage of the process.”

The CCFM has until Jan. 9 to submit the results of the survey to the CITT.

At that point, the CITT has 21 days to decide whether to investigate. Should the investigation proceed, a recommendation would have to be made to the federal government 90 days later, around the beginning of May.