Notice of intent to impose surtaxes on Chinese steel and aluminum in response to unfair Chinese trade practices

Current status: Closed

As announced on August 26, 2024, the federal government intends to impose a 25 per cent surtax on imports of steel and aluminum products from China under section 53 of the Customs Tariff to protect Canada's workers and investments in these sectors from China's unfair trade policies and to prevent trade diversion resulting from recent actions taken by Canadian trading partners.

On August 26, the Government of Canada also announced a 100 per cent surtax on all Chinese-made EVs effective October 1, 2024, and its intent to launch a 30-day consultation on related critical manufacturing sectors, including batteries and battery parts, semiconductors, solar products, and critical minerals. The consultation on potential surtaxes in response to unfair Chinese trade practices in critical manufacturing sectors is open from September 10, 2024, until October 10, 2024.

The consultation on steel and aluminum surtaxes was held from August 26, 2024, to September 20, 2024, and sought views from all interested Canadians and stakeholders on the initial list of goods subject to surtaxes. Thank you to everyone who participated.

What’s next?

The government will use feedback to help inform decisions about the imposition of the proposed surtaxes, including the scope of product coverage. The final list of goods subject to the surtaxes will be announced by October 1, 2024, with the surtaxes taking effect on October 22, 2024. The surtaxes will not apply to Chinese goods that are in transit to Canada on the day on which these surtaxes come into force.

It is the government’s intention that the surtaxes will be reviewed within a period of one year from implementation and could be extended for a further period of time and supplemented by additional measures, as appropriate.

While this formal consultation has now concluded, Canadians are welcome to share their ideas and comments with the Department of Finance at any time.

Related links

• News Release: Canada implementing measures to protect Canadian workers and key economic sectors from unfair Chinese trade practices
• Backgrounder: Surtax on imports of steel and aluminum products from China
• Consultations on potential surtaxes in response to unfair Chinese trade practices in critical manufacturing sectors
• Consultations on potential policy responses to unfair Chinese trade practices in electric vehicles