Trade Cases
July 2, 2019
Canada Amends Safeguard Rules
Written by Sandy Williams
The Canadian Parliament passed an act on June 21 that will amend the Customers Tariff and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act regarding safeguard measures. The House of Commons and Senates pushed through an amendment that temporarily repeals a two-year waiting period before government authorities can reinstate safeguard measures on the same products.
Canada recently removed safeguards on several steel products, but Bill C-101 will allow the initiation of new measures should a surge of imports occur. The bill, however, is inconsistent with Canada’s obligations with the World Trade Organization and will automatically revert to the original provisions after two years. If it becomes necessary to use the new provisions, there is a possibility of a challenge in the WTO.
