Canada Will Use Public Comments To Inform Potential Trade Measures For Steel Derivatives

As Connecting the Dots reported last month, in response to the United States’ Section 232 metals tariffs, the Canadian government launched a public consultation into potential trade measures to protect against the diversion of steel products into the Canadian market. On April 25, the government reported the public comment period has closed and the government will now use the feedback to help inform decisions about the imposition of potential measures to prevent diversion of steel products into the country.

While formal consultations are over, Canadians still are welcome to share input with the Department of Finance using this link.

As a reminder, the initial consultation called for insight into:

• The scope of steel products that could be covered by a potential import measure, including recommended product groupings, product descriptions, and the applicable tariff classifications;
• Evidence that demonstrates increased imports, or the threat of increased imports, of the identified steel products (by product or product group, if possible);
• Evidence that imports harm or threaten to harm domestic producers, such as job losses, reduced profitability, lost market share (again, that information should be offered by product or product group, if possible);
• Views on imports from specific countries or regions;
• Commercial and economic impacts of any potential measures, including sourcing considerations, regional availability, etc.;
• Views on the design, duration, and administration of any potential measures (e.g., proposed tariff rates and/or tariff-rate quota volumes);
• Views on the use of specific trade policy tools; and
• Any additional relevant substantiating information.