Canadian furniture manufacturers file complaint against Chinese.

OTTAWA -- The Canadian Council of Furniture Manufacturers announced recently that it officially filed a complaint with the Canadian International Trade Tribunal requesting an investigation into home furniture imported from China.

The CCFM, the umbrella organization of the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Assn., the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn. and Furniture West, said it has sufficient evidence to prove the influx of Chinese home furniture has been "causing disruption to the Canadian industry."

"What the industry needs is time to adjust, which is exactly the objective of the filing we have made with the CITT," the CCFM said in a statement. The CCFM said the tribunal will deliver its decision on the level of tariffs and quotas within 90 days.

The organization also cited statistics that say imports have increased 200% since 2001, and it says "there is no reason to believe that imports will abate." Further, the industry has 35,000 employees with 2,000 layoffs so far in 15 plants, the release stated.

To help combat these effects, the Canadian furniture industry has created toots to improve its position in the domestic and international markets. The CCFM said that in Quebec, the formation of the Innomeuble R&D and technology transfer investment fund, as well as the furniture industry research partnership "have been adopted to give companies an opportunity to adjust to the new reality."