Steel Industry
Monday March 11,
2002
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg--Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, my question
is for the Minister for International Trade.
In view of the tariff imposed by the United States
on imported steel from which Canada was exempt, and in view of the very real
worry that much of the steel which was headed for the United States may now be
diverted into the Canadian market with disastrous consequences for the Canadian
steel industry, could the minister tell the House today whether he is prepared
to implement safeguards now in order to prevent that kind of negative
consequence from happening here to the steel industry?
Hon. Pierre Pettigrew (Minister for International
Trade, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, let me first express my great satisfaction with
the fact that we have been exempted by the United States on the steel action
which it is taking place around the world. This is very good news for Canada
and demonstrates that our work has been working in Washington. I am very
pleased with that.
We have been discussing with industry for some time
what to do next. I can say that for months we have been monitoring very closely
steel imports into Canada to make sure that there will be no such surge. We
continue to monitor exports very closely.
Industry has now asked us to impose some safeguards
to avoid Canada becoming a dumping ground. We are reviewing that request and we
will be meeting with industry in the next week or so.
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg--Transcona, NDP): Mr.
Speaker, it will not be good news if the Canadian market is flooded with steel
that otherwise would have gone to the United States. Therefore I say to the
minister that the time for safeguards is now.
We do not want the minister to spend his time
monitoring what is happening in the industry. The industry wants him to
implement safeguards now. That is the position of the unions, of the companies,
of all stakeholders, and they want that done now. Will the minister make a
commitment to do that rather than just monitor the situation?
Hon. Pierre Pettigrew (Minister for International
Trade, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the industry has now requested safeguard action
on the part of the Government of Canada. That safeguard request is being
reviewed as a priority for the government.
I can say that we will make absolutely sure that
Canada does not become a diverting ground for steel dumping in the world.
