On March 2, 2022, the Canadian government issued an order removing Most Favoured Nation status from Russia and Belarus. The measure comes as a further response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and support provided by Belarus. The effect of the withdrawal of Most-Favoured-Nation status from Russia and Belarus is that the duty rate on goods from these jurisdictions will increase to 35% (the General Tariff rate).

This measure comes in addition to several trade measures introduced by the Canadian government in recent days. These include announced prohibitions on all Russian owned or registered ships from entering Canadian ports and internal waters, the closure of Canadian airspace to Russian owned, operated or chartered aircraft and a ban on crude oil imports.

Due to ongoing developments in the region, Canada may announce and implement further measures in alignment with its allies in the coming days. We will publish additional articles as measures are announced in an official capacity.

Author

Author

Jesse Kaminski is an associate in Baker McKenzie's Tax Practice Group in Toronto. Jesse joined the Firm in 2020 as a summer student and completed his Ontario articles of clerkship with Baker McKenzie.