Seal Beach Company Dumped Panels on Canada, Agency Rules

SEAL BEACH —  A Canadian government agency has ruled that concrete panels manufactured by Custom Building Products Co. have been dumped on the Canadian market.

The agency, Revenue Canada, said the Custom Building panels, which are reinforced with fiberglass mesh and used as a backing board for ceramic tile installation, were sold in Canada at an average of 35% below “fairly traded prices.” The investigation was prompted by a complaint from Bed-Roc Industries Co. of Surrey, B.C. It makes a similar type of panel, but sells them only in British Columbia and Alberta.

Revenue Canada made a preliminary determination of dumping Feb. 27 and imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on imports going to British Columbia and Alberta.

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal will start public hearings today to determine if the dumping hurt Bed-Roc’s production. The tribunal’s decision is expected by June 27. If an injury finding is made, concrete panel imports into British Columbia and Alberta will remain subject to anti-dumping duties.