Tax & Trade Blog

As we have previously reported on here and here, Canada has continued to expand its economic sanctions on Russian nationals, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, targeting individuals and entities believed to be linked to the Russian regime.

Canada’s sanctions have been primarily imposed under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (the “Russia Regulations”), the Special Economic Measure Act (“SEMA”), and through other similar regulations targeting persons in Belarus, Ukraine and most recently Moldova.  In total these sanctions include asset freezes and financial prohibitions, and even apply to certain listed persons set out in the Schedules within the regulations.  These lists change frequently, are hard to get off of, and have impacted more than 2,900 individuals and entities.

The CBSA has historically requested password information from travelers in order to search their smartphones, personal computers and tablets, on the basis that these devices are searchable like all other “goods” coming into Canada.

The Ontario Court of Appeal in The King v. Pike (2024 ONCA 608) has determined, however, that the CBSA’s routine searches of such electronic devices is contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the “Charter”) and is unconstitutional!

On July 18, 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) issued a Notice of Conclusion of its investigation in the ongoing Expiry Review of certain Carbon Steel Welded Pipe 1 (“CSWP-1”) originating in or exported from the People’s Republic of China (the “Subject Goods”).  

The CBSA determined that the expiry of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal’s (“CITT”) order dated March 28, 2019, in Expiry Review No. RR-2018-001 is likely to result in the continuation or resumption of (i) dumping of the Subject Goods and (ii) subsidizing of the Subject Goods.

More detail, including a full definition of the Subject Goods can be found in the Statement of Reasons for the determination.

On August 12, 2024, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (the “CITT”) issued a notice that it was beginning an expiry review in respect of certain Circular Copper Tube originating in or exported from the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Hellenic Republic (Greece), the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and the United Mexican States (Mexico) (the “Subject Goods”).  On August 13, 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency (the “CBSA”) similarly gave notice of the initiation of their parallel expiry review investigation.

More details on the technical definition of the Subject Goods can be found here.

On July 2, 2024, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (the “CITT”) issued a preliminary determination of injury, concluding that there was evidence that the alleged dumping of certain concrete reinforcing bar from Bulgaria, Thailand and the UAE has caused material injury to the domestic industry.

Background Information

On May 6, 2024, following the initiation of an anti-dumping investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency (the “CBSA”), the CITT initiated a preliminary injury inquiry in respect of alleged dumping of concrete reinforcing bar, which we covered in a previous blog post.