The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has initiated an interim review of its findings and orders on dumped stainless steel round bar from Brazil, subsidized stainless steel round bar from Brazil and India, and dumped stainless steel round bar from the Federal Republic of Germany, France, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Chinese Taipei, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea. The case includes stainless steel round bar ranging in diameter from 25 to 570 mm.

The investigation was initiated based on a number of requests for interim reviews. The Tribunal received a request from Sumitomo Canada Limited for an interim review of the finding and order to exclude stainless steel round bar with diameters ranging from 25 to 130 mm in Grades 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 303 and 410. The Tribunal received a request from Corus Engineering Steels for an interim review of the order to exclude all subject goods originating in or exported from the United Kingdom. The Tribunal received a request from Velan Inc. for an interim review of the finding and order to exclude all subject goods. Each request is based on the belief that domestic production of stainless steel round bar has ceased. In addition, the Tribunal received a request from Ugine Stainless & Alloys Inc. and Ugitech SA for an interim review of the order to exclude certain specific products exported by Ugitech from France and not manufactured in Canada, namely certain stainless steel round bar made using the UGIMA^® process.

The Tribunal decided that the requests were properly documented, and subsequently invited comments from the parties to the inquiry and the review that resulted in the finding and the order. Atlas Specialty Steels Inc., which was the sole domestic producer at the time of the finding and order, indicated that it was still trying to restart its facility but that it was not currently in a position to provide further information to the Tribunal. Otherwise, no submissions were received.

In light of the requests and because it appears that there is no domestic production of stainless steel round bar, the Tribunal has decided that an interim review is warranted. The purpose of the review is to determine if the finding and order should be rescinded or continued with or without amendment to exclude some of the products for which an exclusion has been requested.

In addition, the Tribunal sent a request for information to Atlas Steels to determine its current corporate structure and its plans concerning the resumption of production of stainless steel round bar, with response requested by December 22, 2004. Following receipt of this information, public information will be distributed for comment to the requesters and interested parties who have notified the Tribunal. These comments should be based exclusively on public information. However, confidential information relevant to the issues before the Tribunal may be filed, if necessary, along with a comprehensive public summary or public edited version of the confidential information. Confidential submissions will be made available to counsel who have filed the relevant declarations and undertakings.

The Tribunal has, at this stage, decided to proceed by way of written submissions, without an oral hearing; however, based on information received in the submissions, the Tribunal could decide to conduct an oral hearing. The Tribunal has also notified the President of the Canada Border Services Agency, as well as other interested persons, of the commencement of an interim review.

Written submissions, correspondence or requests for information regarding this notice should be sent to the Secretary of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal.