Mandatory Melt-and-Pour Reporting for Carbon Steel

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published a proposed Order Amending the General Import Permit No. 80 – Carbon Steel that would require steel importers to report the country where the steel was melted and poured (known as country of melt and pour, or COM) when they import carbon steel. The change is a proposal by Global Affairs Canada and Canada Border Services Agency and would become mandatory if the order is finalized (the proposal says it would take effect on November 5, 2024).

What it does#

• Requires importers who use GIP No. 80 (and related steel import permits) to give the country of melt and pour (COM) at the time of importation, in the form the Canada Border Services Agency sets.
• Defines COM as the country where the raw steel was first produced in liquid form and poured into a slab, billet, ingot, or finished mill product.
• Exempts some cases:
  • Importers who clear goods under the Customs Self-Assessment (CSA) program (as described in the Customs Act).
  • Imports with a total value for duty of $5,000 or less.
  • Specific product types such as certain cold-formed sections, railway crossing pieces, structural parts, non‑insulated wire and rope, barbed or fencing wire, and various small wire fasteners.
• Builds on a voluntary phase that began on February 21, 2024, when importers could optionally supply COM in the Single Window Integrated Import Declaration.
• If finalized, the order would make the COM field mandatory for most applicable carbon steel imports.

Who's affected#

• Steel importers into Canada who use GIP No. 80 (carbon steel) and related permits.
• Businesses that already use the Single Window Integrated Import Declaration (SW IID) — the government says about 93% of steel importers use it.
• Smaller importers may be lightly affected, except those importing steel under $5,000, who are exempt.
• The Canada Border Services Agency and Global Affairs Canada, which will collect, transmit, and publish the COM data.
• It is unclear from this notice if some niche traders or import routes not using the SW IID would face extra steps.

Why it matters#

• COM data aims to make the origin of imported steel clearer. That helps industry and government track where steel actually comes from, not just where a finished product was assembled.
• Better data can affect trade monitoring, policy decisions, and efforts to address unfairly traded steel in North America.
• The government says the change should be low-cost and low-effort for most importers because the COM field is similar to existing customs fields and much of the information is already on mill test reports.
• This is a proposed change. There was a public comment period (the notice allows 30 days after publication on August 24, 2024 for representations). The rule is not final until the order is made and registered.