Canada Releases Plans for Steel Safeguards

Canada will enact final safeguards on two categories of steel and begin consultations on the five categories that the Canadian International Trade Tribunal didn't recommend for safeguard tariffs (see 1904040051), the Department of Finance Canada said in an April 26 news release. The 30-day consultation with industry and workers will help "determine what further protections are required," it said. The CITT said the safeguards were deserved for imports of heavy plate and stainless steel wire.

Canada plans to "take every legal action at its disposal to protect Canadian jobs and industry from unfair trade practices," it said. Among those plans are a review of dumping cases, "a more robust steel import regime with a view to strengthening import data, including product quantity, type and origin information," and a new "framework to help guide the Canada Border Services Agency in determining when trade remedy actions should be self-initiated," the department said. Also mentioned is a consultation with "stakeholders on the framework for remission of surtaxes imposed on imports from the U.S. in order to further incentivize the use of Canadian-made steel products."

The original safeguards in Canada were put in place for 200 days following U.S. tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. "The U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian steel under section 232 are illegal and unjustified," said Chrystia Freeland, minister of foreign affairs. "That national security could be used as a justification for U.S. trade action against Canada is absurd. It is overwhelmingly in the best interests of both countries for these tariffs to be lifted."