Trade remedies on Chinese plywood and grinding media

Summary#

On August 24, 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) made trade remedy decisions under the Special Import Measures Act about two product groups from China. For decorative plywood the CBSA made preliminary findings of dumping and subsidizing and put provisional duties in place; for forged grinding media it made final findings for some exporters and ended the subsidy probe for two named companies while a Tribunal inquiry continues.

What it does#

• Decorative and other non-structural plywood (from China)

  • The CBSA made preliminary determinations of dumping and subsidizing on August 24, 2026.
  • The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) will hold a full inquiry and must issue an order or finding within 120 days after receiving notice of the CBSA’s preliminary determinations.
  • Provisional duties are payable on goods released from the CBSA beginning August 24, 2026 and lasting until the earlier of: the investigations are ended, the CITT makes a finding, or an undertaking is accepted.
  • The provisional duty cannot exceed the estimated dumping margin plus the estimated subsidy. The Customs Act rules apply to accounting and interest for unpaid duties.
  • The CBSA will issue a Statement of Reasons within 15 days.

• Forged grinding media (from China)

  • The CBSA terminated the subsidy investigation for two exporters: Jiangyin Xingcheng Magotteaux Steel Balls Co., Ltd. and Tangshan ZWell Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
  • The CBSA made final determinations of subsidizing (for exporters not terminated) and made a final determination of dumping on August 24, 2026.
  • The CITT will continue an injury inquiry and is expected to decide by September 22, 2026. Provisional duties remain in place until that decision.
  • If the CITT finds injury, antidumping and/or countervailing duties will be applied to future imports and importers will be responsible for those duties.
  • Provisional duties will stop applying to imports from the two exporters whose subsidy investigations were terminated, and refunds or return of security may follow where appropriate.
  • The CBSA will issue a Statement of Reasons within 15 days.

Who's affected#

• Importers and customs brokers who bring decorative plywood or forged grinding media into Canada from China.
• Chinese exporters of those goods, including Jiangyin Xingcheng Magotteaux Steel Balls Co., Ltd. and Tangshan ZWell Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (named in the forged grinding media notice).
• Canadian producers of plywood and forged grinding media, who are part of the injury inquiry before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal.
• Buyers and industries that use these products (e.g., furniture, building materials, mining/industrial wear parts) may notice changes in supply or price.
• If the source is unclear about others affected (for example, downstream manufacturers), that uncertainty remains.

Why it matters#

• Provisional duties can raise the cost of importing these goods right away. That can lead to higher prices for businesses that use plywood or forged grinding media, or push buyers to source elsewhere.
• The CITT’s injury decisions could make the duties permanent for future imports. That would have longer-term effects on trade, supply chains, and competitiveness for both Canadian users and foreign suppliers.
• The termination of the subsidy probe for two named exporters means those companies may no longer face provisional duties for their shipments, and importers could get refunds for duties or security already paid for those suppliers.
• Statements of Reasons (coming within 15 days) will explain the CBSA’s decisions in more detail.