Canada: Trade Regulation & Practices

Canada has initiated anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations into truck and bus tires from China, with preliminary determinations expected by November 30, 2026. Producers, exporters, and importers—including companies from Korea, Japan, and Singapore with Chinese operations—face critical September and October deadlines to submit comprehensive responses or risk significantly higher duty rates.

The U.S. has implemented sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods, marking the first time USMCA-compliant products face such measures in the ongoing trade dispute. Canada has responded with dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of U.S. imports, while additional auto industry tariffs loom on the horizon. How will these escalating trade actions reshape cross-border commerce and what strategic adjustments should businesses consider?

Le Canada annonce des contre-mesures tarifaires de 27,6 G$ CA sur plus de 600 catégories de produits américains en réponse aux tarifs imposés par les États-Unis. Ces mesures toucheront l'acier, l'aluminium, les produits laitiers, l'électronique et plusieurs autres secteurs, avec des taux variant de 15 % à 50 % selon les produits.

The United States has imposed 50% tariffs on hundreds of Canadian exports effective August 19, 2026, targeting goods across multiple sectors including machinery, wood products, chemicals, textiles, food and beverages. Canadian exporters should verify whether their products fall under the affected HTS codes, as these tariffs apply even to CUSMA-compliant goods.

President Trump has signed three Presidential Proclamations imposing additional 50% tariffs on Canadian products across motor vehicles, dairy, and alcoholic beverages sectors, effective August 19, 2026. Unlike previous measures, these tariffs will apply even to goods qualifying for preferential treatment under CUSMA, marking a significant escalation in U.S.-Canada trade tensions. The proclamations cite Canadian policies as discriminatory, though the tariffs extend far beyond the targeted sectors to include

President Trump has invoked Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion of Canadian exports, targeting motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages, and dairy products. With implementation scheduled for August 19, 2026, Canadian businesses face a critical 30-day window to reassess supply chains, renegotiate contracts, and explore tariff minimization strategies. How will this century-old trade weapon reshape North America's most integrated supply chain?

On April 19, 2018, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) released its much anticipated decision in R v. Comeau, i.e. the "beer case".

It is worthwhile to remember that the Canadian government can review any investment (including minority investments) by non-Canadians on the basis of "national security" concerns.

In October, 2012 M. Comeau lived in Tracadie, New Brunswick. He drove across the Restigouche River to Quebec He stopped at Pointe‐A‐la‐Croix and the Listiguj First Nation Indian Reserve.