Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news concerning manufacturing, e.g. textile and apparel, chemical, electronics, wood and paper, metals, plastics and rubber, packaging, and machining. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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Start Date: 2025-05-11
End Date: 2025-05-19

Top Headlines

Main Stories

CBSA and Canadian International Trade Tribunal Initiate Dumping and Subsidy Investigations for Steel Strapping Imports

The Canada Border Services Agency has launched investigations into steel strapping imports from China, South Korea, Türkiye, and Vietnam, examining allegations of dumping and subsidization. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal concurrently initiated a preliminary inquiry after a complaint from JEM Strapping Systems Inc., citing lost market share, price undercutting, depressed prices, and reduced profitability. The Tribunal will determine by July 11, 2025, if there is a reasonable indication of injury, and the CBSA will provide a preliminary decision on dumping or subsidization by August 11, 2025. If warranted, final injury inquiries will proceed. These investigations fall under the Special Import Measures Act and allow stakeholders to file notices of participation.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca, Announcements: www.canada.ca

Competition Bureau Releases 2025–2026 Annual Plan with Renewed Enforcement Focus

The Competition Bureau published its 2025–2026 Annual Plan, committing to expanded enforcement activities following recent legislative amendments to the Competition Act. The Bureau’s agenda includes prioritizing sectors significantly affecting Canadians, deploying all available tools to prevent anti-competitive activity, and enhancing domestic and international partnerships. Additional efforts will aim to keep pace with new business practices and technologies and to increase outreach initiatives across the business sector. The Bureau’s stated vision is to remain at the forefront of Canada’s digital economy amid ongoing market changes.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Manufacturing Sales Fall in March 2025 Driven by Metals and Petroleum

Statistics Canada reported a 1.4% decline in manufacturing sales for March 2025. Reduced activity in the primary metal and petroleum and coal product subsectors were key contributors to the fall. Meanwhile, the furniture and related product group saw the largest monthly growth, partially offsetting losses in other segments.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca

Trade Tribunal Initiates Expiry Review for Duties on Carbon Steel Screws

An expiry review of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on certain carbon steel screws from China and Taiwan is underway at the Canadian International Trade Tribunal. The review will assess whether allowing the current order to expire would likely result in renewed dumping or subsidizing and, if so, whether that would cause injury to Canadian producers. The CBSA is tasked with an initial decision by October 2, 2025, and the Tribunal's final decision is expected by October 17, 2025. Participants must file notices by May 20, 2025; hearings are scheduled to commence January 5, 2026.

Sources: Gazette, Part I: www.gazette.gc.ca

Important Updates

Secondary Stories

Corrosion-Resistant Steel Sheet Dumping Inquiry Moves Ahead

The Tribunal is proceeding with an inquiry into dumping of corrosion-resistant steel sheet from Türkiye’s Borçelik Çelik Sanayi Ticaret A.Ş., excluding certain automotive and aerospace applications. Hearings begin July 14, 2025.

Sources: Gazette, Part I: www.gazette.gc.ca

Dumping Investigation on U.S. Renewable Diesel Imports Terminated

On May 5, 2025, the Tribunal and CBSA concluded there was no reasonable indication of injury from U.S. renewable diesel imports, leading to the early termination of anti-dumping and subsidy investigations.

Sources: Gazette, Part I: www.gazette.gc.ca

Order Rescinded on Steel Plate Duties from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and Romania

As of March 20, 2025, the Tribunal rescinded its order on duties for hot-rolled carbon steel plate imports from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

Sources: Gazette, Part I: www.gazette.gc.ca

Trade in Goods Datasets Released Detailing Export Characteristics by Industry and Firm Size

Statistics Canada released data tables detailing export values and the number of exporting firms segmented by industry and enterprise size.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: open.canada.ca

Trade Data Now Available by Industry, Establishment, and Related Parties

New datasets provide the number of exporting establishments and export values by NAICS code and related-party status, supporting analysis of trading patterns.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: open.canada.ca

Provincial Announcements

New Hydrogen Carbon Intensity Standard

Quebec’s BNQ and CSA Group published a harmonized Canada-U.S. national standard for reporting hydrogen’s carbon intensity, intended to improve comparability and transparency for producers and users.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

Alberta Freezes Industrial Carbon Price Amid U.S. Tariff Uncertainty

Alberta will maintain its industrial carbon price at $95/tonne to help counteract economic impacts from U.S. tariffs, aiming to support manufacturing, petrochemical, and energy sectors.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.alberta.ca

Ontario Introduces Legislation to Accelerate Construction and Remove Obstacles for Manufacturers

The province’s proposed Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, includes provisions to remove barriers for manufacturers adopting innovative materials and building systems.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Nova Scotia Adds Minerals to Critical and Strategic Lists for Industrial Growth

Nova Scotia updated its critical minerals list, adding high purity silica, silver, tellurium, and uranium, as well as a new strategic list including potash and gypsum for industrial development.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.novascotia.ca

Quebec Approves $6.2M for Matagami Transshipment Yard Upgrade, Supporting Northern Mining Logistics

A $6.2 million provincial investment will fund upgrades to Matagami’s rail yard, targeting improved connectivity and supporting mining operations in the Nord-du-Québec region.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.quebec.ca

Saskatchewan Launches Nuclear Energy Mission to Poland

Saskatchewan’s delegation, led by Minister Jeremy Harrison, will attend the World Nuclear Supply Chain Conference in Poland, promoting the province’s uranium capabilities and seeking international collaboration.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: www.saskatchewan.ca

Ontario 2025 Budget Targets Critical Minerals Processing, Tax Credits for Manufacturers

The Ontario budget allocates $500 million for mineral processing, introduces a 15% manufacturing investment tax credit for select businesses, and sets up a $5 billion fund to support companies facing tariff-related disruptions.

Sources: Provincial Announcement: news.ontario.ca

Public Officials' Social Media

Ned Kuruc, MP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, lauded local manufacturing’s role in supplying materials for national and international projects.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Caroline Desrochers mentioned meeting with Minister Mélanie Joly at Bécancour’s aluminium plant amid ongoing tariff concerns.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Sima Acan celebrated Siemens’ investment in AI-driven battery manufacturing, noting the government’s focus on emerging technologies.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Maninder Sidhu reported on ongoing discussions to defend the auto industry, attract foreign investment, and sustain global competitiveness.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

New Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, MP, visited the Bécancour aluminium factory with MP Caroline Desrochers to discuss emerging trade challenges.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

MP Jasraj Singh Hallan argued on social media that federal production caps and regulatory requirements are detrimental to energy sector jobs and investments.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Senator Rosa Galvez referenced the 387,301 tonnes of hazardous waste shipped into Canada in 2023, drawing from Basel Convention data.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

What We're Reading This Week

• CBC: Can Trump really "Make Manufacturing Great Again"?: Exploring potential shifts in North American manufacturing policy.
• The Globe and Mail: CNC for rapid prototyping: speed, precision, and cost savings explained: Discussion of rapid prototyping technologies in modern manufacturing.
• CBC News: Keep calm and train skilled manufacturing workers in spite of tariffs: report: Views on training manufacturing workers under current tariff regimes.
• CTV News: Canadian jobs & the manufacturing sector: A segment discussing current job dynamics in Canada's manufacturing industry.