Columbia Sportswear Company announced that it prevailed in an anti-dumping case filed against Columbia and its subsidiary Sorel by the domestic Canadian footwear industry for the sale of rubber bottomed, cold weather footwear in the Canadian market.
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.” As a result of this legal victory, all marginal dumping duties previously imposed on the import of the boots into Canada from Macao and Vietnam will be refunded, and future duties will not be imposed.
Since September 9, 2002 Columbia and Sorel have been required to pay additional dumping duties up to 72% based on an initial Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency finding that dumping had occurred. The original investigation instituted by the domestic Canadian footwear industry on March 6, 2002 alleged 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 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.
On account of Columbia and Sorel’s active responses, extensive cooperation and tenacious efforts, the two brands successfully refuted the charges levied by the domestic industry. “Doing business in the highly protective Canadian footwear market is not always easy, said Tim Boyle, CEO and President of Columbia Sportswear. “The domestic industry has been very successful in protecting its market share through the use of dumping investigations. We believe winning this case is a tremendous victory for the Canadian consumer, and allows Columbia and Sorel to continue to offer a fair value product to the Canadian retailer.”
Sorel was a well established brand in Canada for over 40 years, widely recognized and requested by customers. Columbia Sportswear acquired trademark rights to the brand from bankruptcy in September 2000. Under new acquisition, the Sorel brand continues its success with both a footwear and an apparel offering.
Columbia was represented in the case by the Canadian law firm, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP.
