Have Your Say: Canadian Government Announces Consultation on Improved Access to Trade Remedy System

The Canadian government recently announced it will be holding public consultations regarding measures to strengthen Canada’s trade remedy system and to improve access for workers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This announcement follows the government’s statement in April 2021 that it would launch such consultations.

Currently, the Canadian government seeks stakeholder views with respect to potential amendments to the Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act (CITT Act), and to related regulations, as well as potential measures to improve access for SMEs to Canada’s trade remedy system.

Canada’s trade remedy system provides recourse to Canadian producers who have been injured, or who face the threat of injury, by dumped or subsidized imports, or by an import surge. Under Canada’s trade remedy system, Canadian producers can request the launch of an investigation against specific countries whose exporters are allegedly dumping or subsidizing goods in the Canadian market. Additionally, the Canadian government can impose safeguard measures if an inquiry reveals that an import surge has either injured or threatens to injure the domestic industry.

The Canadian government seeks feedback in these five areas:

  • Increase participation of unionized workers in trade remedy proceedings
  • Investigations into the circumvention of duties
  • Massive importations
  • Expiry reviews
  • Improving access for SMEs to Canada’s trade remedy system

The Government of Canada would like to hear from users of Canada’s trade remedy system and those affected by trade remedy duties, including domestic producers and importers of all sizes, workers, as well as other interested stakeholders. You can send your comments to fin.simaconsult-lmsiconsult.fin@fin.gc.ca with “Trade Remedies Consultations” as the subject line. The deadline to submit comments is September 26th, 2021.

You can find more information on the submission process as well as the intent of the consultations here.