Columbia and its Sorel unit have been paying additional duties up to 72% since September of last year. The levy was based on an initial Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency finding that nine Columbia footwear models and 37 Sorel footwear models imported from Macao and Vietnam were being sold at less than fair value and thereby causing injury to the domestic Canadian footwear market. Although the complaint impacted all rubber bottomed, cold weather footwear importers, the complaint was mainly directed at the Columbia Sportswear and Sorel brands.
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) concluded that the dumping of the aforementioned goods “has not caused material injury and is not threatening to cause material injury to the Canadian footwear industry.” The finding will result in a refund of all additional duties paid, and a cessation of all future duties stemming from the original complaint.
Columbia Sportswear acquired trademark rights to the brand from bankruptcy in September 2000.
>>> The inability of Canadian companies to compete on price in their own market cannot be reversed through protectionist activity. The Canadian consumer is the clear loser…
