Import Controls for Certain Steel Goods

Summary#

The federal government issued the Order Amending the Import Control List (2025-1) (SOR/2025-156). It updates the Import Control List to cover certain steel goods tied to the Order Imposing a Surtax on the Importation of Certain Steel Goods, and the change came into force on August 1, 2025. The order supports implementation of the Canada–U.S. **Joint Statement of May 17, 2019 on Section 232 duties.

What it does#

• Replaces subitem 82(1) of the Import Control List so that it applies to steel goods classified under the tariff items shown in column 4 of Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 to the Order Imposing a Surtax on the Importation of Certain Steel Goods, as those columns read on the day this Order came into force.
• Limits the control to goods that are not listed in section 3 of that surtax Order and that are not imported in a quantity above the applicable limit set by that Order.
• The measure was made under the Export and Import Permits Act to allow control of those imports and to collect information needed to apply the surtax-related measures.
• Comes into force on August 1, 2025 (or on the day it is registered if registration happens after that date).

Who's affected#

• Importers and customs brokers who bring into Canada the specific steel goods covered by the surtax Order’s tariff listings.
• Businesses that rely on imported steel could notice changes in how certain shipments are handled.
• It is unclear from the text exactly which tariff lines and which quantities will be controlled here without consulting the surtax Order’s Schedules and limits.

Why it matters#

• Adding these steel items to the Import Control List means the government can require information and impose controls on those imports. That typically affects paperwork, timing and oversight of shipments.
• The change is meant to make it practical to apply surtax limits and to align Canada’s approach with the Canada–U.S. agreement on Section 232 duties. This can affect supply chains for industries that use imported steel.