Steve Payne
B.C. builders protest rebar tariffs that could raise prices 41 per cent
Canadian Contractor Profitability canadaThe B.C. government and the province's builders are protesting a Canada-wide tariff on Asian rebar imports. Shipping costs from domestic rebar producers make Canadian product unaffordable, they claim.
You might not be losing any sleep at night over the price of rebar in your home province, but B.C. builders who use Asian rebar to save money are unhappy about a new rebar tariff decision. In concrete structures, rebar can account for 6 to 10 per cent of construction costs.
The decision by the Canada International Trade Tribunal to levy a tariff of up to 41 per cent on rebar coming into Canada from China, South Korea and Taiwan, unfairly punishes B.C. builders, they say.
B.C. builders are hurt by shipping costs when they try to buy Canadian-made rebar, they argue. A tariff that might make sense elsewhere in Canada is unfair to Pacific Rim builders like those in B.C.
The protest is being led by the B.C. government and the International Contractors and Businesses Association of B.C. (ICBA).
The ICBA says that, if the tariff goes ahead, it could add up to $10,000 to the cost of constructing a 2-bedroom condo in Vancouver.
Read the full story here in the Journal of Commerce.
Advertisement
Print this page
Isn’t the whole point behind tariffs to protect domestic manufactures from being undercut and put out of business by foreigner manufactures that have unfair advantages (like zero environmental practices, zero benefits to workers, below poverty line wages, etc). It is good to hear that government is actually doing its job and looking out for Canadian manufacturing. We have all forgotten what things cost in this country because we have been shopping outside Canada for far too long. It is time for Canadians to start supporting Canadian jobs. The claim by BC Builders is without “structure” as construction is driven be demand and the cost will be borne by the consumer, who will lump it and adjust to the true market reality. Now what other tariffs can we kick into gear. Lets make it all at home…… is it just me or does anyone else feel jobs being created?
Feb 6, 2015
Fix up the freight rate, BUY CANADIAN MADE PRODUCTS, it’s a no brainer. It’s so true there has been too much product brought in from off shore and too much manufacturing shut down in CANADA. We need the jobs at home!!!!!
nevermind the price of imported rebar, right now a 20′ stick of 10m rebar can cost anywhere from $9.24- $34.59 for the exact same material Rona.ca prices.