The Government of Canada is seeking the views of interested parties on aligning Canada’s country of origin marking regime with that of the United States for certain steel and aluminum products. Canada’s country of origin marking regime is set out in regulations, including:
- the Determination of Country of Origin for the Purposes of Marking Goods (NAFTA Countries) Regulations; and
- the Determination of Country of Origin for the Purpose of Marking Goods (Non-NAFTA Countries) Regulations.
These regulations establish the scope of products and the criteria used to determine country of origin for the purposes of marking.
The Government of Canada is proposing amendments to the scope of products and criteria for country of origin marking for both NAFTA and non-NAFTA countries under the Determination of Country of Origin for the Purposes of Marking Goods (NAFTA Countries) Regulations and the Determination of Country of Origin for the Purpose of Marking Goods (Non-NAFTA Countries) Regulations.
Certain goods when imported into Canada are required to be marked to indicate clearly the country in which the goods were made. The foreign exporter or producer applies the country of origin marking. However, Canadian importers are responsible for ensuring that imported goods comply with marking requirements at the time they import the goods. Since the implementation of NAFTA, Canada has had two country of origin marking regimes, one for goods imported from NAFTA countries and one for goods imported from non-NAFTA countries.
The objective of these amendments is to align Canada’s marking regime with the U.S. marking regime with respect to certain steel and aluminum products in order to address the transshipment and diversion of unfairly cheap foreign steel and aluminum, which poses a threat to Canadian jobs and the North American market.
Find details related to the proposed amendments and submissions in the Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 152, Number 17.
Interested parties wishing to comment on the proposed amendments to Canada’s marking regime should submit their views in writing by May 14, 2018. Submissions should include, at a minimum, the following information:
- Canadian company/industry association name, address, telephone number, and contact person.
- Reasons for the expressed support for, or concern with, the proposed amendments, including detailed information substantiating any expected beneficial or adverse impact.
- Whether or not the information provided in the submission is commercially sensitive.
Submissions should be sent to the following address: International Trade Policy Division (Marking), Department of Finance Canada, 90 Elgin Street, 14th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G5, fin.tariff-tarif.fin@canada.ca (email), 613-369-4024 (fax).
General inquiries can be directed to the Tariff and Trade Policy Section, Department of Finance Canada, 613-369-4043 or 613-369-4038.