Steel Import Controls Amended

Summary#

This is the federal order SOR/2026-120, titled Order Amending the Import Control List (2026-3). It changes how certain steel products are listed for import controls so the government can apply a previously announced surtax and collect information about those imports. The order was registered on June 12, 2026 and has several different coming-into-force dates in late June 2026.

What it does#

• Replaces the text of subsection 82(1) of the Import Control List so it explicitly covers steel goods that match the tariff numbers 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 covered goods to those not already excluded by section 3 of the surtax order and to shipments that do not exceed any quantity limits set under that surtax order.
• Repeals Item 82 of the Import Control List.
• Repeals two provisions from a previous amending order (listed as consequential amendments).
• States when the parts of this order take effect:
  • Generally at 00:00:00 Eastern Daylight Time on June 28, 2026 (or on the registration day if registered later).
  • Section 2 comes into force on the first anniversary of the day the order comes into force.
  • Sections 3 and 4 come into force at 24:00:00 Eastern Daylight Time on June 26, 2026.
• Says the change is meant to help implement the Joint Statement by Canada and the United States on Section 232 duties (dated May 17, 2019) and to allow the government to collect import information tied to surtax actions under the Customs Tariff.

Who's affected#

• Importers and customs brokers who bring in steel products that fall under the tariff classifications listed in the related surtax order.
• Businesses that buy or use imported steel (manufacturers, fabricators, construction firms) may notice changes in paperwork, reporting, or limits on quantities.
• The federal government (the order was made on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and by the Governor in Council) will use the information for surtax administration and enforcement.
• To know exactly which products are covered, you must check the tariff numbers in column 4 of Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of the Order Imposing a Surtax on the Importation of Certain Steel Goods as they read on the coming-into-force day.

Why it matters#

• This order ties import controls directly to the existing surtax on certain steel goods. That can affect whether a shipment can enter Canada, how much can be imported, and what information importers must provide.
• For businesses that rely on imported steel, the order could affect supply, compliance paperwork, and potentially costs if surtax applies.
• It implements an earlier Canada–U.S. agreement on steel and aluminum duties, so it has cross-border trade implications.
• The exact practical impact depends on the specific tariff numbers listed in the surtax order and on how regulators enforce the new listing and information requirements.