As a tax lawyer assisting clients in defending themselves against the all-powerful CRA (and its equally powerful ally, the Department of Justice – Canada’s largest and best-equipped law firm), I welcome any judicial decisions that help to right that
On August 17, 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) issued a Notice of Initiation of Investigation under the Special Import Measures Act (“SIMA”) in respect of the alleged dumping and subsidizing of paperboard cups and containers from China. This investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by Great pacific Enterprises Limited Partnership.
Canada has a robust system or regulations related to the importation, distribution and sale of regulated products in Canada. One highly regulated set of products is various Health Products regulated under the Canadian Food and Drugs Act (the “FDA”).
Canada maintains a broad and expanding sanctions regime, including measures targeting individuals connected to designated countries and restricted transactions which we have previously written about here. Once listed under Canadian sanctions, available remedies are limited. The primary resource is typically an application for judicial review before the Federal Court of Canada.
Not since the 1980s and ‘90s has our specialized Customs, Trade & Indirect Tax Firm seen such an uptick in clients with significant under-valuation issues with the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”).
As an International Trade Firm, a good part of our international trade practice is focused on product regulatory issues related to the importation, distribution and sale of regulated products in Canada. One highly regulated set of products is various Health Products regulated under the Canadian Food and Drugs Act (the “FDA”).
"Costs" are awarded to successful litigants in tax litigation, as in most forms of litigation, but are not well understood by the public. Indeed, many litigants may head to the Tax Court of Canada (“TCC”) without first understanding the rules behind cost awards and without contemplating how these "costs" awards work when on the losing end of the litigation and/or appreciating that they may well be on the hook for the government’s legal bills when they do lose.
For businesses importing goods into Canada, the transaction value method (“TVM”) is the most commonly applicable method for determining the value for duty (“VFD”) under the Customs Act. However, for Canadian subsidiaries of foreign businesses, disputes often arise with the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) over VFD-related issues such as (1) the relevant “sale for export”, (2) purchaser in Canada status, and (3) inclusion of various design costs.
Anti-dumping duties (“ADD”) under the Special Import Measures Act (“SIMA”) generally apply where the normal value of targeted imported goods exceeds their export price. However, determining what ADDs are payable on particular goods may first require identifying who the “exporter” of the goods actually is in the circumstances since that will affect the normal value/export price.
A Notice of Objection (“NoO”) may be filed late – but ONLY if certain conditions and deadlines are met. Many taxpayers are unaware of the ability to apply for a late filing, and equally unaware that when THOSE deadlines are missed, it is all over!
We have written about Canada’s many different surtaxes on steel goods here and here, and Canada’s extension of some of these steel surtaxes (including horizontal tariff relief) here.
An application for Judicial Review (“JR Application”) in the Federal Court can be an important tool for taxpayers to challenge decisions by the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) that appear unreasonable, including decisions denying interest and penalty relief.
On July 2, 2026, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (“CITT”) announced the initiation of an expiry review (“Review”) on the dumping and subsidizing of refined sugar from the United States, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. On July 3, 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) similarly gave notice of the initiation of its parallel expiry review investigation.
On July 20, 2026, President Donald Trump invoked a Great Depression-era trade statute to announce 50% tariffs on a wide array of Canadian exports. The sweeping orders rely on Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (“Section 338”, codified at 19 U.S. Code § 1338) and specifically target Canadian dairy, alcohol, and automobiles.
Canada allows newcomers to Canada to import personal belongings duty-free under the "Settler's Effects" tariff classification, HS Code No. 9807.00.00 (the “Settler’s Effects HS Code”). However, the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) maintains strict policies with respect to using the Settler’s Effects HS Code.
Commercial surety bonds ("Surety Bonds") are a vital but frequently misunderstood staple of international trade. Importers and customs brokers rely on Surety Bonds to secure various financial obligations with the Canada Border Services Agency ("CBSA"), including Release Prior to Payment ("RPP") bonds under CARM, bonded warehouses, carrier agreements, and customs appeal bonds.
We have previously written about Canada's draft forced labour laws in Bill C-35 here. Canada has now launched public consultations with respect to Bill C-35, with the consultation period remaining open from July 27 to August 21, 2026.
In this Customs & Trade Report, we review the key details importers need to know regarding the public consultations on Bill C-35.
We have previously written about Requests for Information ("RFI") issued to taxpayers under audit by the Canada Revenue Agency ("CRA") – and the importance of complying with CRA RFIs, with assistance from Experienced Tax Counsel.