As Canada and the US celebrated their respective anniversaries of confederation and declaration of independence last week, we revisit the last few weeks of US-Canada trade-related headlines and breakdown their significance for Canadian and US businesses. While other US trading partners stare down the US administrations’ August 1 “reciprocal” tariff deadline, Canada is focused on inking a new trade and security deal prior to July 21. Canadian and US businesses should take note of…
On the evening of June 29, 2025, Canada announced it would cease collections of its digital services tax (DST) that was otherwise due the following day and would rescind the Digital Services Tax Act (DSTA), after President Trump’s threat to suspend bilateral trade talks. Prime Minister Carney and President Trump have each confirmed that they will resume negotiations with a view toward agreeing a trade deal by July 21, 2025. What is the DST? The…
Canada now faces tariffs on Canadian-origin goods issued by two major trading partners: the United States and China. On March 8, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced retaliatory tariffs on Canadian agricultural and seafood products in response to Canada’s Fall 2024 implementation of a 100% surtax on Chinese origin EVs and 25% surtax on Chinese origin steel and aluminium products. China’s retaliatory tariffs follow its conclusion of an anti-discrimination investigation against Canada that was initiated…
President Trump signed an executive order on February 1, 2025 (“Executive Order”), imposing long‑anticipated tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“US Tariffs”). Canada retaliated swiftly by implementing retaliatory tariffs; however, both sets of tariffs were paused for 30-days while the US and Canada negotiated whether the tariffs would come into force. Despite Canada undertaking extensive measures to secure its border, the US implemented the US Tariffs at 12:01 AM EST on March…
Baker McKenzie’s Canadian international trade and customs team is publishing a series of articles reviewing 2024 trade and customs compliance developments and looking ahead to 2025’s burgeoning issues. This article focuses on Canadian legislative and enforcement developments in combatting forced and child labour. Before we dive into Canada’s commitments to combatting forced and child labour, here is an overview of the current state of politics in Canada, which includes a discussion of the legislative powers…
President Trump signed an executive order on February 1, 2025 (“Executive Order”), imposing the long-anticipated tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“U.S. Tariffs”).Canada retaliated swiftly by implementing retaliatory tariffs/countermeasures at a rate of 25% pursuant to sections 53 and 79 of the Customs Tariff by way of an Order in Council (United States Surtax Order (2025) (“Canada Tariffs”). Read the Government of Canada’s press release here. For the…
Baker McKenzie’s Canadian international trade and customs team is publishing a series of articles reviewing 2024 trade and customs compliance developments and looking ahead to 2025’s burgeoning issues. This article focuses on Canada’s trade remedies regime. Before we dive into the trade remedies outlook, here is an overview of the current state of politics in Canada, which includes a discussion of the legislative powers that remain while Canadian Parliament is prorogued until March 24, 2025.…
Baker McKenzie’s Canadian international trade and customs team is publishing a series of articles reviewing 2024 trade and customs compliance developments and looking ahead to 2025’s burgeoning issues. This article focuses on Canada’s customs regime. Before we dive into the customs outlook, here is an overview of the current state of politics in Canada, which includes a discussion of the legislative powers that remain while Canadian Parliament is prorogued until March 24, 2025. (Click the…
This is not Canada’s first rodeo with an America-first, U.S. presidential administration. The President-elect’s recent announcement of 25% tariffs on “all” Canadian (and Mexican) imports echoes of 2018, where in his first term, President Trump applied 25% tariffs on Canadian-origin steel and aluminum products (2018 Tariffs). In response, Canada applied countermeasures targeting U.S. origin steel and aluminum and a range of U.S. origin goods. In this article we examine lessons from the tit-for-tat tariffs applied…
Following the first year of reporting under Canada’s Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (the “Supply Chains Act”), Public Safety Canada has presented its inaugural annual report to Parliament and published updated guidance on the reporting requirements. As we look ahead to the upcoming year, it is important for companies to assess their reporting obligations and maintain their current momentum in preparation for the next reporting period. On November 15,…