Global Affairs Canada's Export Control List and permit policy, Notices to Importers and Exporters (for example steel and aluminum import permits), and listings and delistings under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) and other sanctions laws.
CBSA states that, as of November 5, 2024, importers using GIP Number 80 – Carbon Steel and GIP Number 81 – Specialty Steel Products must provide country of melt and pour (COM) information in the form and manner determined by CBSA when completing customs declarations through the Single Window Integrated Import Declaration. The requirement is a term and condition of using the GIPs, and CBSA notes the conditional COM rules are not expected to be implemented in the SW IID on November 5, though the COM field has been available on an optional basis since February 2024.
Why it matters: Importers of carbon and specialty steel under GIPs 80 and 81 must report country of melt and pour information in the SW IID as of November 5, 2024, unless they qualify for the CSA, $5,000 value or finished-product exemptions.
The Canada Border Services Agency states in Customs Notice 25-24 that the Order Imposing a Surtax on the Importation of Certain Steel Goods (SOR/2025-148), as amended by SOR/2025-155, SOR/2025-266 and SOR/2026-0119, applies a 50% surtax on the value for duty of certain steel goods originating outside Canada, the United States and Mexico, with the SOR/2026-0119 amendments effective June 27, 2026 extending the tariff rate quota surtax until June 27, 2027 and changing Schedules 1 and 2.
Global Affairs Canada states in Notice to Importers Serial No. 1170 that, effective October 1, 2026, importers of aluminum products under General Import Permit No. 83 must report and keep records of the country of largest smelt, country of second-largest smelt (if any) and country of most recent cast.
Global Affairs Canada states in Notice to Importers Serial No. 1168 that imports of electric vehicles originating in China under Import Control List items 195(1) to (3), classified in tariff items 8702.20.10 through 8704.90.00 or a Chapter 99 tariff item, require a shipment-specific import permit and are administered under a first-come, first-served quota, with 24,500 vehicles available for the second period of Quota Year 1 from September 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027, plus unused volumes from the first period. Eligible EVs enter at a most-favoured-nation rate of 6.1%, and importers must be Canadian residents that are EV original equipment manufacturers or their appointed Canadian-resident agents.
CBSA states in Customs Notice 26-20 that goods subject to tariff rate quotas entered into a customs bonded warehouse must have a valid shipment-specific import permit issued by Global Affairs Canada to be accounted for at the "within access" rate of duty, and that the permit's validity period must cover the date the goods exit the warehouse. The notice says this is a clarification of existing application, not a change in policy, and applies to all goods subject to TRQs.
Why it matters: Importers using a customs bonded warehouse must hold a shipment-specific import permit valid through the date goods exit the warehouse, and must amend the Type 10 CAD before filing an ex-warehouse movement at the "within access" rate.
The Canada Border Services Agency states in Customs Notice 26-15 that, when the Order Amending the General Import Permit No. 83 — Aluminum Products comes into force on October 1, 2026, importers must submit the country of largest smelt (CLS), country of second-largest smelt (C2S) and country of most recent cast (CRC) to the CBSA via the Single Window Initiative Integrated Import Declaration; until then submission is optional. The requirements apply to all aluminum HS codes in Global Affairs Canada's SWI IID Regulated Commodities Data Element Matching Criteria Table, and cover goods containing primary aluminum for CLS and C2S and all goods covered by GIP 83 for CRC.
Global Affairs Canada's Notice to Importers Serial No. 1163, effective June 13, 2026, replaces Serial No. 1160 and sets out the policies and procedures for administering the tariff-rate quotas on certain steel goods in item 82 of the Import Control List, above which a 50% surtax applies. The Third Amending Surtax Order, effective June 28, 2026, adjusts TRQ volumes for the Hot-Rolled Sheet, Cold-Rolled Sheet, Hot-Rolled Bar, Structural Steel and Stainless Steel Billets and Blooms classes from non-FTA partners and the Hot-Rolled Sheet, Steel Plate and Cold-Rolled Sheet classes from non-CUSMA FTA partners, and reassigns certain tariff classification numbers from the Hot-Rolled Sheet to the Cold-Rolled Sheet class.
Global Affairs Canada states in Notice Serial No. 1162 that, from March 1, 2026, imports of electric vehicles originating in China under Import Control List items 195 (1) to (3) require a shipment-specific import permit and are administered under a quota, with 24,500 vehicles available on a first-come, first-served basis for March 1, 2026 to August 31, 2026. Eligible EVs are assessed at a most-favoured-nation tariff rate of 6.1%, and the 100% surtax under the China Surtax Order (2024) has been repealed.
Global Affairs Canada's Notice to Exporters No. 1159 states that storing controlled technology in the cloud can constitute a transfer under the Export and Import Permits Act, requiring an export permit, where there is a reasonable possibility that a person outside Canada could examine the technology. GAC interprets a transfer as occurring when controlled technology is sent from Canada and stored abroad in a way that creates more than a remote possibility of foreign access, including through decryption keys or access rights. Safeguards consistent with the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security's Guidance on cloud security assessment and authorization will generally mean no permit is required.
Global Affairs Canada states in Notice to Importers SER 1133 that, effective November 5, 2024, importers using General Import Permit No. 80 – Carbon Steel and General Import Permit No. 81 – Specialty Steel Products must provide country of melt and pour information at the time of importation as a term and condition of the permits. The requirement covers carbon steel under HS headings 7206-7217, 7225-7229, 7301-7302, 7304-7306 and 7308, and specialty steel under HS headings 7218-7224, 7312-7313 and 7317.
Why it matters: Importers of carbon and specialty steel under GIP No. 80 or GIP No. 81 must report country of melt and pour at the time of importation, for example through the Single Window Integrated Import Declaration, unless an exemption applies.
Jun 18Tue
Tuesday
Global Affairs Canada · Notices to Importers / ExportersTop PickAI score6262
Global Affairs Canada states in Notice to exporters No. 1129 that an Order Amending the Export Control List, approved on May 31, 2024, adds five new controls under Item 5506 covering quantum computers able to process quantum information in 34 or more physical qubits, circuits and devices specially designed for them, CryoCMOS integrated circuits operating at 4.5 Kelvin or below, technology for semiconductor devices using GAAFET structures, equipment for isotropic and anisotropic dry etching, and advanced Scanning Electron Microscope equipment. As of July 20, 2024, a permit is required to export these items from Canada, except to the United States.
Why it matters: From July 20, 2024, exporters of the five items added under Item 5506 need a permit to ship them from Canada, except to the United States.
Feb 23Wed
Wednesday
Global Affairs Canada · Notices to Importers / ExportersTop PickAI score6262
Global Affairs Canada states in Notice to Importers and Exporters Serial 1071 that, effective immediately, Canada will stop issuing new permits for the export and brokering of controlled goods and technology to Russia, and that valid permits held by exporters for such exports or brokering prior to February 24, 2022 are immediately cancelled. Only permits and applications related to specific end-uses such as medical supply and humanitarian needs may be considered for exception, on a case-by-case basis. Global Affairs Canada says it will continue to monitor the situation and may reassess the decision.
Why it matters: Exporters and brokers holding permits for controlled goods and technology to Russia have those permits cancelled immediately, and only medical supply and humanitarian end-uses may be considered for exception on a case-by-case basis.
Dec 29Wed
Wednesday
Global Affairs Canada · Notices to Importers / ExportersTop PickAI score6060
Global Affairs Canada states that certain Export and Import Controls System (EICS) commodity codes change effective January 1, 2022, following World Customs Organization HS code updates and related Customs Tariff updates, and that permit and certificate applications with an entry or exit date after December 31, 2021 for the affected goods must use the new commodity codes.
Global Affairs Canada states in Notice to Importers No. 1032 that, effective November 2, 2020, item 80 (Carbon Steel Products) and item 81 (Specialty Steel Products) of the Import Control List have been re-added following their deemed removal on November 1, 2020, and the associated HS codes amended. Carbon steel covers HS headings 7206-7217, 7225-7229, 7302 and 7304-7306; specialty steel covers HS headings 7218-7224, 7301, 7308, 7312-7313 and 7317. The changes do not limit the quantity of carbon or specialty steel that may be imported into Canada, and the new items have no deemed removal date.
Why it matters: Importers and customs brokers using GIP No. 80 or GIP No. 81 must state the applicable permit on the customs documentation for shipments under HS headings 7206-7302, 7304-7306, 7308, 7312-13 and 7317, and retain the prescribed records for six years.
Sep 19Tue
Tuesday
Global Affairs Canada · Notices to Importers / ExportersTop PickAI score6060
Global Affairs Canada states in Notice to Importers Serial No. 903 that the barley products tariff rate quota will be filled on October 18, 2017, and that 11:59 p.m. local time that day is the cut-off for accounting for imports of barley products under a within access commitment tariff item. The notice covers Items 183 to 191 of the Import Control List, namely barley products under heading numbers 11.02, 11.03, 11.04, 11.07, 11.08, 19.01, 19.04 and 23.02 of the Customs Tariff schedule.
Why it matters: From 11:59 p.m. local time on October 18, 2017, importers of the listed barley products may no longer invoke GIP No. 20, and goods reported under GIP No. 100 must carry the statement "Imported Under the Authority of General Import Permit No. 100 - Eligible Agricultural Goods".
Sep 14Thu
Thursday
Global Affairs Canada · Notices to Importers / ExportersTop PickAI score6262
Global Affairs Canada states in Notice to Importers Serial No. 902 that the wheat products tariff rate quota will be filled on October 13, 2017, and that 11:59 p.m. local time that day is the cut-off for accounting for imports of wheat products classified under a "within access commitment" tariff item. The notice covers Items 162 to 181 of the Import Control List, namely wheat products under heading numbers 11.01, 11.03, 11.04, 11.08, 11.09, 19.01, 19.02, 19.04, 19.05 and 23.02 of the Customs Tariff.
Why it matters: As of 11:59 p.m. local time on October 13, 2017, importers of the covered wheat products may no longer invoke GIP No. 20, and goods entered under GIP No. 100 must state "Imported Under the Authority of General Import Permit No. 100 - Eligible Agricultural Goods" on the prescribed form.