Global Affairs Canada issued a statement on April 12, 2021 advising on the cancellation of export permits to Turkey. The Government of Canada suspended export permits in the fall of 2020 for military goods and technology to Turkey pending the results of an investigation into allegations that Canadian technology was being used by Azerbaijan in the military conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Global Affairs Canada, in consultation with the Department of National Defence, has conducted a thorough review of all suspended and valid export permits for all military goods and technology destined to Turkey.
View the full report on the review of export permits to Turkey.
To learn more on export controls refer to A Guide to Canada’s Export Control List.
An export permit is required before an item included in the ECL may be exported from Canada to any destination, with the exception (in most cases) of the United States. Nuclear material and equipment prohibited firearms and conventional weapons are among the military and strategic items requiring permits for export to the United States.
Canada’s export controls are not meant to hinder international trade unnecessarily, but to regulate and impose restrictions in response to clear legislative and policy objectives. The Government of Canada strives to ensure that, among other policy goals, such as supporting Canadian foreign and defence policies, Canadian goods and technology are not used in a manner that is prejudicial to human rights, peace, security or stability.
Canada prohibits the export, sale, supply, or shipment of arms and related materiel to countries that are under United Nations Security Council arms embargos, through regulations under the United Nations Act. Canada also has autonomous sanctions in place in relation to certain countries through regulations under the Special Economic Measures Act, which prohibit certain activities, including the export of specific goods and technology to those countries, or to any person in those countries, and/or to listed individuals and entities subject to a ban on Canadians dealing with them. Furthermore, the EIPA also provides authority for an Area Control List (ACL), a list of countries to which the Governor-in-Council deems it necessary to control the export or transfer of any goods or technology, regardless of whether or not the items are included in the ECL. Currently, only North Korea is listed on the ACL.
Please note that even if an item does not appear on the ECL it may still need some sort of export authorization. Several other departments have responsibilities for certain export controls, namely: the Canadian Wheat Board, Health Canada, Agriculture Canada, Canadian Heritage, Superintendent of Financial Institutions, Natural Resources Canada; and Environment Canada.
Certain military and strategic goods and technology are also controlled for import into Canada. These include small arms, large-calibre armaments, tanks and other self-propelled guns, bombs, rockets and missiles, and Chemical Weapons Convention toxic chemicals, among others. These items are listed in the Import Control List and require a permit issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs prior to being imported into Canada.
Contact at Global Affairs:
Telephone: 343-203-4331 or 343-203-7700
Fax: 613-996-9933
Email: tie.reception@international.gc.ca