OTTAWA—The Canada Border Services Agency is launching investigations into the alleged dumping and subsidizing of galvanized steel wire from China, Israel and Spain.

Dumping is defined as goods being sold to importers in Canada at prices below selling price, or at unprofitable prices.

Subsidizing occurs when goods imported into Canada benefit from foreign government financial assistance.

According to the CBSA, the investigations stem from a complaint filed by Tree Island Steel of Richmond, B.C.

The complainant alleges the dumping and subsidizing of the wire is harming Canadian production by causing loss of market share and sales, price erosion, declining capacity utilization, reduction in employment and declining revenues, margins and profits.

The Special import Measures Act protects Canadian producers from the potentially damaging effects of what the CBSA defines as this trade.

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal will now begin a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the imports are harming Canadian producers and will issue a decision by March 22.

While the tribunal is examining the question of injury, the CBSA says it will investigate whether the imports are being dumped and/or subsidized, and will make a preliminary decision by April 22.