Canada Investigates Vietnamese Container Chassis Imports

The company that filed the complaint against Ocean Trailer was Canadian chassis manufacturer Max-Atlas International. (Max-Atlas)

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The Canada Border Services Agency has launched an investigation into container chassis imported from Vietnam by British Columbia-based Ocean Trailer, a spokesman for the agency said.

The federal agency will probe whether the chassis, commonly called intermodal chassis in the U.S., are circumventing a 2022 Canadian International Trade Tribunal finding on the dumping and subsidizing of container chassis from China. The CBSA probe was launched Nov. 25.

In the case, Thaco Special Vehicles Manufacturing Co. is being investigated for allegedly exporting chassis to Canada that were largely manufactured and assembled in China, the agency spokesman added.

“Circumvention is allegedly occurring through assembly or completion of the goods in Vietnam, by means of insignificant processes, using parts or components — that represent a major portion of the total cost of producing the like goods — originating in or exported from China,” CBSA said in letters to the parties to the case.

Nonconfidential documents in the case show the period under investigation began Oct. 1, 2020, and ran through Sept. 30, 2024.

CBSA expects to make a decision on the investigation by May 23, 2025, it said, noting that this was Canada’s first anti-circumvention investigation.

If the imports are found to be circumventing the CITT finding, CBSA will inform CITT. From there, CITT would take corrective action, which could include extending antidumping and countervailing duties to the chassis.

The value of the Canadian market for container chassis is estimated at $140 million per year, CBSA said.

More details on the case, including the statement of reasons, are set to be made public Dec. 10 — 15 days after the investigation began.

The company that filed the complaint was Canadian chassis manufacturer Max-Atlas International.

In its complaint, Max-Atlas International alleged components originating in China were being used to assemble or complete chassis in Vietnam, potentially avoiding duties applied under the Special Import Measures Act.

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec-based Max-Atlas did not respond to requests for comment.

Ocean Trailer was not immediately available for comment.

Chassis marketed as being manufactured in Vietnam were found in July 2023 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to have been predominantly made in China. Chassis manufacturer Pitts Enterprises and subsidiary company Dorsey Intermodal knowingly imported the chassis and did so to avoid paying additional tariffs on inbound Chinese manufactured products, the CBP said.

The complaint alleging Pittsview, Ala.-based Pitts contravened import regulations was filed by South Gate, Calif.-based CIE Manufacturing — formerly known as China International Marine Containers.

CBP arrived at its decision on Pitts after a visit by inspectors to Vietnam and review of the company’s supplier in that country, Thaco Industries.