Uzbekistan Added to Rough-Diamond Trading List

Summary#

This is the Order Amending the Schedule to the Export and Import of Rough Diamonds Act. It adds Uzbekistan to the list of countries Canada may legally trade rough diamonds with. The Order came into force on January 23, 2025.

What it does#

• Adds Uzbekistan to the schedule of the Export and Import of Rough Diamonds Act (EIRDA) so Canada can export to and import rough diamonds from that country.
• Aligns Canada’s list with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) after Uzbekistan was accepted as a KPCS participant on November 15, 2024.
• Keeps the requirement that trade in rough diamonds must be accompanied by a Kimberley Process Certificate confirming shipments are free of conflict diamonds.
• The change is administrative (it updates the list of eligible trading partners) and does not change broader policy or new regulatory requirements.

Who's affected#

• Businesses and people who mine, buy, sell, export or import rough diamonds — especially those who currently trade with, or plan to trade with, Uzbekistan.
• Trade and enforcement bodies such as Canada Border Services Agency and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which enforce the EIRDA.
• Natural Resources Canada’s Kimberley Process Office, which handles related oversight and contacts.

If there is little or no existing trade between Canada and Uzbekistan, the practical impact may be small.

Why it matters#

• It lets Canadian diamond traders legally trade rough diamonds with Uzbekistan under the international KPCS rules.
• It keeps Canada in step with an international scheme meant to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds.
• For traders, it means paperwork and certification rules already in place under the EIRDA continue to apply when dealing with Uzbekistan.
• For the public, the change is about upholding Canada’s international commitments and ensuring diamond trade remains certified as free of conflict diamonds.