Annual report to parliament on the administration of the Export and Import Permits Act - 2023

Table of contents

• 1.0 Introduction
  • 1.1 Purpose of the Export and Import Permits Act
• 2.0 Key developments in 2023
  • 2.1 Export controls policy
  • 2.2 Import controls policy
  • 2.3 Judicial reviews
• 3.0 Export and brokering controls
  • 3.1 Export Control List
  • 3.2 Military, strategic and dual-use items
    • 3.2.1 Brokering controls and Brokering Control List
    • 3.2.2 Area Control List
    • 3.2.3 Automatic Firearms Country Control List
  • 3.3 Non-strategic exports
    • 3.3.1 Softwood lumber products to the United States
    • 3.3.2 Log exports
    • 3.3.3 Agri-food products to the United States
    • 3.3.4 Dairy export thresholds
    • 3.3.5 Textiles and clothing – tariff preference levels
    • 3.3.6 CETA origin quotas
    • 3.3.7 Canada-U.K. TCA origin quotas
  • 3.4 General export permits
• 4.0 Import controls
  • 4.1 Textiles and clothing - tariff preference levels
  • 4.2 Supply-managed products
  • 4.3 Non-supply managed products
  • 4.4 Steel monitoring
  • 4.5 Aluminum monitoring
  • 4.6 Weapons, munitions and chemicals
  • 4.7 International import certificates and delivery verification certificates
  • 4.8 General import permits
• 5.0 Offences under the Export and Import Permits Act
• 6.0 Performance standards
• 7.0 References
  • 7.1 General data notes
  • 7.2 Definitions
  • 7.3 Glossary

List of tables

• Table 1: Export Control List group and permit status summary for 2023
• Table 2: Top 12 destinations for military, dual-use and strategic export permits issued in 2023
• Table 3: Number of non-strategic export permits issued by sector in 2023
• Table 4: Softwood lumber exports to the United States in 2023
• Table 5: Log permits issued in 2023
• Table 6: Controlled agri-food exports to the United States in 2023
• Table 7: Dairy export threshold exports under CUSMA in 2023
• Table 8: Textiles and clothing: CUSMA tariff preference levels and utilization for exports from Canada in 2023
• Table 9: CETA origin quotas 2023
• Table 10: Textiles and clothing: CUSMA tariff preference levels and utilization for imports to Canada in 2023
• Table 11: CETA origin quotas: textiles and apparel 2023
• Table 12: Poultry and eggs: WTO TRQs
• Table 13: WTO TRQs
• Table 14: CETA TRQs
• Table 15: CPTPP TRQs
• Table 16: CUSMA TRQs
• Table 17: Poultry and eggs: supplemental imports
• Table 18: Dairy - supplemental imports
• Table 19: Other agricultural product imports in 2023

List of figures

• Figure 1: Number of import permits for controlled goods in 2023
• Figure 2: Number of import permits issued by sector in 2023
• Figure 3: Number of import permits for weapons, munitions and chemicals in 2023

1.0 Introduction

This Annual Report to Parliament, on the administration of the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA) for the year 2023, is submitted pursuant to section 27 of the EIPA; Chapter E-19 of the 1985 Revised Statutes of Canada, as amended, which provides that:

"No later than May 31 of each year, the Minister shall prepare and cause to be laid before each House of Parliament a report of the operations under this Act for the preceding year and a report in respect of arms, ammunition, implements and munitions of war, that were exported in the preceding year under the authority of and in accordance with an export permit issued under subsection 7(1)."

1.1 Purpose of the Export and Import Permits Act

The authority to control the import and export of goods and technologies is derived from the EIPA. It finds its origin in the War Measures Act and was first introduced as an act of Parliament in 1947. It has subsequently been amended on a number of occasions.

The EIPA provides that the Governor in Council may establish lists known as the Import Control List (ICL), the Export Control List (ECL), the Area Control List (ACL), the Automatic Firearms Country Control List (AFCCL) and the Brokering Control List (BCL). For each respective list, the EIPA sets out criteria that govern the inclusion of items or countries and provides that the Governor in Council may revoke, amend, vary, or re-establish any of the lists. Control over the flow of goods and technology contained in these lists or to the specified destinations is implemented through the issuance of import, export or brokering permits.

By order-in-council, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the EIPA, and the Minister has the authority to grant or deny applications for permits under the Act, giving the Minister broad powers to control the trade of items contained in the lists mentioned above. The Minister also has broad authority, under subsection 10(1) of the EIPA, to "amend, suspend, cancel or reinstate any permit".

While the Minister of Foreign Affairs maintains overall authority for decisions under the EIPA, the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development can assist the Minister of Foreign Affairs in carrying out responsibilities under the Act that are related to import and export controls implemented for economic and trade-related reasons. These include:

Import controls on:

• Agricultural products (including supply-managed products like poultry, eggs and dairy, as well as non-supply managed products like wheat, barley, beef and veal);
• Textiles and clothing;
• Steel; and
• Aluminum.

Export controls on:

• Skim milk powder, milk protein concentrates and infant formula containing more than 10% cow's milk;
• Peanut butter;
• Sugars, syrups and molasses;
• Sugar-containing products;
• High-sugar-containing products;
• Sugar confectionery and chocolate preparations;
• Processed foods;
• Dog and cat food;
• Vehicles;
• Textiles and clothing;
• Softwood lumber; and
• Logs (of all species).

For export and brokering controls over military, dual-use and strategic goods and technology and import controls over munitions, the Minister of Foreign Affairs retains direct decision-making authority, although the views and recommendations of the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development can be sought for certain sensitive applications.

The operations carried out under the EIPA include:

1) Import and export controls implemented for economic reasons, including obligations in Canada’s international trade agreements. The aim is to find a balance between ensuring that Canadians and Canadian businesses can benefit from predictable rules-based trade, while also supporting vulnerable Canadian industries and ensuring the viability of important Canadian policies, such as supply management.

2) Export and brokering controls over dual-use, military and strategic goods and technology, which are designed to ensure that our exports are consistent with Canadian foreign and defence policies and security interests. A key priority of Canada’s foreign policy is the protection and promotion of international human rights, peace and security.

3) Munitions items controlled for import for the purpose set out in section 5, para (c.1) of the EIPA, which restricts, “the importation of arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war, army, naval or air stores, or any articles deemed capable of being converted thereinto or made useful in the production thereof”.

2.0 Key developments in 2023

2.1 Export controls policy

Policy reviews

Russia and Belarus

Throughout 2023, Global Affairs Canada maintained its presumptive denial policy on the export and brokering of any controlled goods and technology to Russia, as well as its suspension on the issuance of new permits to Belarus as set out in Notice to Exporters and Brokers No. 1071 and Notice to Exporters and Brokers No. 1033. In addition to export controls, Canada also imposed sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. More information on Canada’s sanctions is available on the Canadian Sanctions website.

Türkiye

In 2023, the Notice to Exporters No. 992 regarding exports of items listed on the Export Control List to Türkiye remained in effect, and export permits for military goods and technology to Türkiye continued to be presumptively denied. Only applications related to NATO cooperation programs could be assessed on a case-by-case basis. However, this policy was amended in 2024 through Notice to Exporters No. 1108. Further information regarding this policy will be included in the 2024 report.

Israel

Throughout 2023, export permit applications for military goods and technology to Israel were reviewed on a case-by-case basis, including against the ATT criteria, which are enshrined in the EIPA. Following the terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent military operations by Israel in Gaza, the only permits issued were for non-lethal items. No permits have been issued since January 8, 2024, and all permits that remain valid at the time of tabling of this report are for non-lethal items.

Guide to Canada’s Export Control List update

Further to a streamlining amendment to the Export Control List (ECL) on June 3, 2021, commitments made at the four key multilateral export control regimes (the Australia Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and the Wassenaar Arrangement) are now automatically incorporated into Canadian regulations 30 days after publication of an updated Guide to Canada’s Export Control List by Global Affairs Canada, as opposed to via a regulatory amendment.

Publication of the January 2023 edition of the Guide to Canada’s Export Control List occurred on June 1, 2023, providing industry with 30 days to familiarize themselves with the new controls that came into effect on July 1, 2023. The amendments added, clarified and removed controls over specific items as agreed upon in the various regimes up to January 1, 2023.

Updates to the Guide that are made for any other reason, (e.g. controls that are not directly pursuant to Canada’s commitments made in multilateral export control regimes), including for the development of unilateral controls that would still require a regulatory amendment to the ECL. No such amendments related to military, dual-use or strategic items were made in 2023.

Area Control List, Automatic Firearms Country Control List, and Brokering Control List

There were no amendments to the Area Control List (ACL), Automatic Firearms Country Control List (AFCCL) or Brokering Control List (BCL) in 2023.

Amendments to the Export Permits Regulations

On June 2, 2023, amendments to the Export Permits Regulations were made to update the regulations to reflect current operational requirements, including those described in the Export and Brokering Controls Handbook (the Handbook) and to align the regulations with information already required from applicants in practice and policy, and in the NEXCOL permitting system (SOR/2023-118). Amendments also respond to the concerns raised by the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations (REGS) regarding two previous amendments to the Regulations (SOR/2001-34 and SOR/2003-216). The amendments increase regulatory clarity and certainty, and modernize requirements for Canadian exporters.

Amendments to General Export Permit No. 41 - Dual-use Goods and Technology to Certain Destinations

On September 1, 2023, General Export Permit No. 41 – Dual-use Goods and Technology to Certain Destinations (GEP-41) was amended to include a new category to the list of “unauthorized goods and technology” to prohibit the use of GEP-41 for the export or transfer of goods or technology that are intended for the development, production or use of rocket systems or unmanned aerial vehicles with a range of 300 km or greater (SOR/2023-188).

2.2 Import controls policy

Notice to Importers 1090 and 1106 - Relating to the Importation of Handguns into Canada

Temporary import control measures requiring an individual permit for the import of restricted handguns into Canada, which came into effect on August 19, 2022, and set out in Notice to Importers No. 1090, remained in place until December 15, 2023. As of that date, with the Royal Assent of amendments to the Firearms Act under former Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms), and pursuant to Notice to Importers No. 1106, an individual import permit is not required for the re-importation of a lawfully registered restricted handgun into Canada by individuals holding a valid possession and acquisition licence (PAL) and registration certificate for the firearm. An import permit would be a redundant level of control given that Canada Boarder Services Agency (CBSA) now requires proof of compliance under the amended Firearms Act before allowing the import of these firearms into Canada.  Import permits are required for new imports for police/military/movie/theatrical purposes, and for new imports of restricted handguns to train, compete or coach in a handgun shooting discipline that is on the programme of the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee. All other import applications will normally be denied.

2.3 Judicial reviews

Canadian Shooting Sports Association, et al. v. Canada (Attorney General)

On November 17, 2022, the Canadian Shooting Sports Association (CSSA), along with four named individuals, filed an application for judicial review in Federal Court challenging Notice to Importers No. 1090 (a policy statement issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs under the authority of the EIPA, which advises the public that the Minister will normally deny requests to issue import permits for restricted handguns falling under Item 70(1) of the Import Control List). This judicial review also challenged a regulation under the Firearms Act that falls under the authority of Public Safety Canada and the Commissioner of the RCMP. Following the Royal Assent of Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms), Notice to Importers 1090 is no longer in place and Notice to Importers 1106 was introduced on December 15, 2023, as described in the above section. Under Notice to Importers no. 1106, Global Affairs Canada has updated the policies to import restricted handguns into Canada to align with the amendments to the Firearms Act made under Bill C-21. In early January 2024, the Applicants in the CSSA judicial review filed a Notice of Discontinuance of this litigation against the Government of Canada.

Mosaic Forest Management Corporation, et al. v. Minister of Foreign Affairs, et al.

On July 17, 2020, Mosaic Forest Management Corporation commenced a judicial review application against the Minister of Foreign Affairs challenging the control of logs under the EIPA and the Minister’s decisions on certain log export permit applications. The parties to this judicial review reached a settlement agreement whereby the Applicant agreed to compensate the Respondents for a portion of their costs in defending this judicial review. The Applicant therefore filed a Notice of Discontinuance of this litigation.

3.0 Export and brokering controls

3.1 Export Control List

Section 3 of the EIPA provides that the Governor in Council may establish a list of goods and technology, to be called the Export Control List, including therein any article the export of which the Governor in Council deems necessary to control for purposes specified in the EIPA. A complete list of goods and technology that are subject to export controls may be found on the Export Controls webpage.

The Export Control List is comprised of nine groups, of which one has been repealed, as follows:

Groups 1 and 2 contain Canada's multilateral commitments made under the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies (WA), founded in 1996. As included in its “Initial Elements”, the objectives of the Wassenaar Arrangement include, inter alia: “to contribute to regional and international security and stability, by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, thus preventing destabilising accumulation.”

Through national policies, the WA participating states seek to ensure that transfers of items covered by the common control lists do not contribute to the development or enhancement of military capabilities that have the potential to undermine regional and global security and stability. Participating states also commit to take every precaution to ensure that such items are not diverted to illegitimate end-uses.

Groups 3, 4, 6 and 7 represent Canada’s multilateral commitments under the various non-proliferation regimes (the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Australia Group, and the Missile Technology Control Regime) designed to control the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological and nuclear weapons) as well as their delivery systems.

Group 5 is comprised of various strategic and non-strategic goods and technology controlled for other purposes, as provided in the EIPA. This category includes: inter alia, forest products (logs, softwood lumber), agricultural products (skim milk powder, milk protein concentrate, infant formula containing more than 10% cow’s milk, peanut butter, sugars, syrups and molasses and sugar-containing products), Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) origin quotas (high-sugar containing products, sugar confectionery and chocolate preparations, processed foods, dog and cat food, vehicles and certain apparel products) and the Canada-U.K. Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA) origin quota for vehicles.

In addition, Group 5 places export controls on non-regime listed strategic items, including all U.S. origin goods and technology not otherwise controlled on the ECL, blinding laser weapons, anti-personnel mines, nuclear fusion reactors and contains an end-use provision to control the export of items that may be destined for use in a weapons of mass destruction activity or facility.

In accordance with its legislative authority in the EIPA to implement an international agreement, textile and clothing exports to certain countries with which Canada has free trade agreements (FTAs) (U.S., Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica and Honduras) are regulated under the EIPA. Section 9.1 of the EIPA also authorizes the Minister of Foreign Affairs to issue export certificates of eligibility. Group 5 includes these items as well.

Group 9 is a subset of Group 2 and includes the full-system conventional arms listed in Article 2 of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), namely:

• Battle tanks;
• Armoured combat vehicles;
• Large-calibre artillery systems;
• Military aircraft;
• Military helicopters;
• Military vessels and submarines;
• Missiles and missile launchers; and
• Small arms and light weapons destined for police and/or military end-use.

Canada is required to report annually on exports of Group 9 items to the United Nations ATT Secretariat and has been voluntarily reporting to the United Nations since 1992.

3.2 Military, strategic and dual-use items

In 2023*, for military, dual-use and strategic goods exports, there were:

• 3,611 permits issued;
• 299 applications returned without action;
• 339 applications withdrawn;
• 3 applications denied; and
• 28 permits cancelled or suspended.

*Between January 1 and December 31, 2023 (data based on submission of application).

The EIPA requires any resident who wishes to export from Canada any items included on the ECL to obtain, prior to export, an export permit issued by Global Affairs Canada.

An export permit describes, among other things, the quantity, technical description and nature of the items to be exported, as well as the final destination country and consignee. Unless otherwise stated, an export permit may authorize multiple shipments, up to the expiry of the permit and as long as the cumulative total of the quantity and value of items exported does not exceed the quantity and value stated on the permit. An export permit constitutes a legally binding authorization to export controlled goods or technology as described.

A key priority of Canada’s foreign policy is the maintenance of international peace and security. In line with its foreign policy objectives, the Government of Canada strives to ensure that goods and technology exported from Canada are not used in a manner that is prejudicial to human rights, peace, security or stability.

Furthermore, under the amendments to the EIPA that came into force on September 1, 2019, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is legally required to take into account the assessment criteria referred to in Article 7 of the ATT for export and brokering permit applications for arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war.

Specifically, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is required to consider whether the goods or technology specified in the application:

• Would contribute to peace and security or undermine it; and
• Could be used to commit or facilitate:
  • A serious violation of international humanitarian law;
  • A serious violation of international human rights law;
  • An act constituting an offence under international conventions or protocols relating to terrorism to which Canada is a party;
  • An act constituting an offence under international conventions or protocols relating to transnational organized crime to which Canada is a party; or
  • Serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against women and children.

A further change to the legislation stipulates that the Minister cannot issue an export or brokering permit for “arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war” if, after taking into account the relevant considerations described above, including available mitigating measures, the Minister determines that there is a substantial risk that the proposed transaction would result in any of the negative consequences referred to in the ATT assessment criteria.

Additional information about the assessment process for export and brokering permits for military, strategic and dual-use items is available in the 2023 Report on the Exports of Military Goods and Technology.

Table 1: Export Control List Groups and Permit Status Summary for 2023*

*Strategic goods only. Non-strategic goods are covered in section 3.3.
**This category includes applications that were not assigned to an ECL Group either because they were withdrawn or returned without action prior to a technical assessment being conducted or because the item in question required a permit for export to a destination listed on the Area Control List.

Notes:

Submitted Applications: Table 1 includes data on all export permit applications submitted between January 1 and December 31, 2023. It does not include information on applications that were submitted prior to 2023 (or those that were submitted on December 31, 2023, and not received until January 1, 2023), nor does it include information on export permit amendment requests. Items in an export permit application may be assessed under more than one ECL Group. To avoid counting the same application twice, applications containing more than one ECL assessment have been assigned to a single Group based on the following order of precedence: 9, 2, 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 5. Therefore, an application containing both a Group 9 assessment and a Group 2 assessment appears in the Group 9 row, and an application containing both a Group 6 and a Group 5 assessment appears in the Group 6 row. The status of all export permit applications reflected in the table is accurate as of December 31, 2023.

Issued: If a permit was issued in 2023 and is subsequently cancelled, it is only counted once in the cancelled or suspended column. Permits that were issued in 2023 but have since expired are also counted in the issued column.

Denied: Table 1 includes information on applications submitted in 2023 that had been denied as of December 31, 2023.

Withdrawn: In 2023, a total of 122 applications were withdrawn by Global Affairs Canada because an individual export permit was not required. The remaining 217 were withdrawn at the applicant’s request.

Cancelled or Suspended: Table 1 includes information on applications submitted in 2023 that were cancelled or suspended as of December 31, 2023.

Under Review: Includes applications submitted in 2023 that as of December 31, 2023 were not completely processed or were otherwise under review.

Table 2: Top 12 destinations for military, dual-use and strategic export permits issued in 2023*

*Between January 1 and December 31, 2023 (data based on submission of applications).
Note: Export permits are only required for a small number of items controlled for strategic purposes on the ECL when exported to the U.S. This chart reflects the top 12 destinations by number of permits issued in 2023 for all military, dual use and strategic items on the ECL. The 2023 Report on Exports of Military Goods and Technology has a similar table but is a listing of Canada’s top destinations for military items (Group 2 only) outside of the U.S. for permits utilized in 2023.

3.2.1 Brokering controls and Brokering Control List

Article 10 of the ATT requires State Parties to take measures to regulate the brokering of arms taking place under its jurisdiction. Canada decided to control the brokering activities of persons and organizations in Canada, as well as the activities of Canadians abroad (Canadian citizens, permanent residents and organizations) reflected by changes to Canada’s export controls program that came into effect on September 1, 2019.

Brokering is defined in the EIPA as “arranging or negotiating a transaction that relates to the movement of goods or technology included in a Brokering Control List from a foreign country to another foreign country.”

General Brokering Permit 1 (GBP1) streamlines the authorization of brokering activities involving certain low-risk transactions. Similar to a General Export Permit, a General Brokering Permit is a type of permit that is issued generally to all persons and organizations in Canada as a way to reduce administrative burden, provided that users follow all applicable terms and conditions.

For more information about Canada’s brokering controls, please consult the brokering regulations online or the Report on the Exports of Military Goods and Technology.

Brokering Control List

Section 4.11 of the EIPA provides that the Governor in Council may establish a list of goods and technology, to be called a Brokering Control List, including in it any article that is included in the Export Control List the brokering of which the Governor in Council considers it necessary to control. The BCL includes full-system conventional arms listed in the ATT (as defined in Group 9 of the ECL), all items listed in Group 2 of the ECL, as well as any ECL item – including dual-use items – that are likely to be used to produce or develop a weapon of mass destruction, or in any facility used for such activities.

3.2.2 Area Control List

Section 4 of the EIPA provides for the control of “any goods or technology to any country included in an ACL”. Currently the only country listed on the ACL is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). In 2023, one (1) export permit was issued for North Korea. Notice to Exporters No. 172 provides context on the treatment of permit applications to this destination.

3.2.3 Automatic Firearms Country Control List

Further to sections 4.1 and 7(2) of the EIPA, certain prohibited firearms, weapons, or devices, and components and parts thereof, that are included on the Export Control List, may be exported only to destinations listed on the Automatic Firearms Country Control List (and only to consignees that are government or authorized by government).

The 46 countries listed on the AFCCL in 2023 were:

• Albania
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Botswana
• Bulgaria
• Chile
• Colombia
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Romania
• Saudi Arabia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Türkiye
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• United States

3.3 Non-strategic exports

In 2023, for non-strategic exports*, Global Affairs Canada:

• Issued a total of 225,315 permits;
• Rejected 3,119 export applications; and
• Cancelled 7,992 permits.

Table 3: Number of Non-Strategic Export Permits Issued by Sector in 2023*

*Between January 1 and December 31, 2023 (data based on submission of applications).

3.3.1 Softwood lumber products to the United States

Based on the definitions specific to the 2006 Canada-United States Softwood Lumber Agreement, exports of softwood lumber totalled 11,990,513,550 board feet in 2023. Global Affairs Canada continues to require export permits for shipments to the U.S., having implemented a monitoring program that took effect October 13, 2015.

Table 4: Softwood Lumber Exports to the United States in 2023*

*Between January 1 and December 31, 2023 (data based on submission of applications and can be subject to corrections).

3.3.2 Log exports

A federal export permit issued by Global Affairs Canada is required for the export of all logs from any type of land in Canada (e.g. provincial Crown land, federal Crown land, private lands, parks and reserves) to all destinations outside of Canada. In 2023, Global Affairs Canada issued 4,524 permits for logs.

Table 5: Log Permits Issued in 2023*

*Between January 1 and December 31, 2023 (data based on submission of applications and can be subject to corrections).

3.3.3 Agri-food products to the United States

As part of its implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) commitments, the U.S. established Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) for imports of peanut butter, certain sugar-containing products and refined sugar. Within these TRQs, the U.S. has established a country-specific reserve for Canada.

The U.S. government administers these TRQs on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to facilitate the orderly export of these products against Canada’s country-specific reserves, Canada added these products to the ECL.

Accordingly, in order to comply with the EIPA and to benefit from the U.S. in-quota tariff rate, Canadian exports of peanut butter, certain sugar-containing products and refined sugar to the U.S. require an export permit issued by Global Affairs Canada. There are no quantitative restrictions for Canadian exports of these products to destinations outside of the U.S.

Under its WTO commitments, the U.S. established a TRQ for imports of peanut butter, with a country reserve of 14,500,000 kilograms for Canada, in 1995. Peanut butter was placed on the ECL the same year. As such, export permits are required for access to the TRQ. Peanut butter is found on the ECL under item 5201. The quota year extends from January 1 to December 31 each year.

Sugar-containing products were placed on the ECL on February 1, 1995. The WTO global TRQ for U.S. sugar-containing products is 64,709,000 kilograms and applies to imports of certain sugar-containing products falling under Chapters 17, 18, 19 and 21 of its Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The quota year for sugar containing products is from October 1 to September 30. In September 1997, Canada obtained a WTO country-specific reserve within the U.S. sugar-containing products TRQ of 59,250,000 kilograms.

Refined sugar was placed on the ECL on October 1, 1995. The WTO global TRQ for U.S. refined sugar is 22,000,000 kilograms. The quota year for refined sugar is from October 1 to September 30. In September 1997, Canada obtained a 10,300,000 kilograms WTO country-specific reserve.

With the coming into force of CUSMA, these commitments for both sugar-containing products and refined sugar were incorporated into CUSMA.

Under CUSMA, Canada obtained additional market access through two new TRQs for refined sugar (9,600,000 kilograms) and sugar-containing products (9,600,000 kilograms) for export to the United States. The quota year for the new TRQs runs from January 1 to December 31. Furthermore, an additional quantity for refined sugar may be determined by the United States, in any given year, in times of domestic shortage. This additional quantity is based on the U.S. decision to increase in-quota imports under its WTO commitments and is equivalent to 20% of the total increase.

Since the premature closing of the CUSMA-Sugar containing products TRQ in the U.S. in 2022, Global Affairs Canada has been monitoring discrepancies between Canadian and U.S. utilization data for the CUSMA and WTO sugar containing products TRQs. These discrepancies are believed to be caused primarily by exports of Sugar-Containing Products (SCPs) from Canada without an export permit. The department has reached out to the U.S. Customs and Borders Protection (CBP) and has been adopting several measures to ensure the correct utilization of both SCP TRQs.

Table 6: Controlled Agri-Food Exports to the United States in 2023

*Canadian exit date between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023.
**Canadian exit date between January 1 and December 31, 2023.

3.3.4 Dairy export thresholds

Canada administers export controls on various dairy products via two export thresholds. The first threshold covers exports of skim milk powder (SMP) and milk protein concentrate (MPC), while the second covers exports of certain infant formula (i.e. containing more than 10% on a dry weight basis of cow milk solids). These thresholds apply to all exports of SMP, MPC, and infant formula to any destination. Both export thresholds are administered on the dairy year, which runs from August 1 to July 31.

Each export threshold includes a volume of exports that is “below-threshold quantity” (BTQ) not subject to a charge. In order to lawfully export from Canada, any export of SMP, MPC, and infant formula must be done so under the authority of an export permit issued by Global Affairs Canada.

Table 7: Dairy Export Threshold Exports under CUSMA in 2023*

*Canadian Exit date between August 1, 2022 and July 31, 2023.

3.3.5 Textiles and clothing – tariff preference levels

TPL exports to the U.S. and Mexico must be accompanied by a certificate of eligibility. All CUSMA TPL exports, except for yarn, to the U.S. are allocated on a historical use basis, based on previous year utilization. CUSMA exports not allocated, including yarn to the U.S. and all TPL to Mexico, are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

New rules for sewing thread became effective on July 1, 2021 and for narrow elastics and pocket lining on January 1, 2022. Under these new rules, goods of Chapter 61 and 62 that are produced in Canada using non-originating sewing thread, pocket lining or narrow elastic may be eligible for duty-free treatment when exported to the United States or Mexico under the applicable CUSMA TPL, regardless of the origin of the yarn or fabric used.

Other TPL exports, such as those to Chile, Costa Rica and Honduras, are not subject to Canadian controls and do not require a certificate of eligibility.

For CUSMA TPL clothing and textile exports, Global Affairs Canada issued 19,338 permits, rejected 290 permit applications and cancelled 172 issued permits to the U.S and Mexico.

Table 8: Textiles and Clothing: CUSMA Tariff Preference Levels and Utilization for Exports from Canada in 2023*

*Canadian exit date between January 1 and December 31, 2023.
** Exports of cotton or man-made fibre spun yarn are reported in kilograms.

3.3.6 CETA origin quotas

Certain exports from Canada that are eligible under the CETA origin quotas are subject to export controls under the EIPA. Accordingly, an export permit is required for shipments of these products from Canada to the European Union (EU) in order to use a more liberal set of rules of origin, in order to qualify for preferential tariffs under CETA. These goods are high-sugar containing products, sugar confectionery and chocolate preparations, processed foods, dog and cat food, vehicles and certain apparel products.

Origin quota access is made available on a first-come, first-served basis, with the exception of the origin quotas for high-sugar containing products and vehicles for which allocation policies have been established. With the exception of the origin quota for vehicles, CETA contains growth factors for origin quotas that provide for an increase in the volume of the origin quotas if certain conditions are met.

Table 9: CETA Origin Quotas 2023*

*Canadian exit date between January 1 and December 31, 2023.

3.3.7 Canada-U.K. TCA origin quotas

With the coming into force of the Canada-U.K. Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-U.K. TCA) on April 1, 2021, exports of vehicles from Canada that are eligible under the Canada-U.K. TCA origin quota for vehicles are subject to export controls under the EIPA. Accordingly, an export permit is required for shipments of these products from Canada to the U.K. in order to use a more liberal set of rules of origin, in order to qualify for preferential tariffs under the Canada-U.K. TCA.

Other products that are eligible for the preferential tariff under the origin quotas will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival in the U.K., until the applicable origin quota is fully utilized. No allocation policies have been established for origin quotas under the Canada-U.K. TCA.

There was no utilization under the Canada-U.K. TCA export origin quotas in 2023. As articulated in paragraph 3 of Annex 5-A to the Protocol on Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures, the cessation of these annual quotas is scheduled to occur three years subsequent to the entry into force of the Canada-U.K. TCA (i.e., April 1, 2021). As such, the ability to utilize these Canada-U.K. TCA origin quotas ceased as of April 1, 2024. This decision reflects the culmination of transitional provisions for these origin quotas, as delineated within the Canada-U.K. TCA.

3.4 General export permits

The EIPA provides for the issuance of general permits authorizing the export of certain designated goods or technology to specified destinations. Exporters may use these general permits without seeking prior approval from Global Affairs Canada as long as all conditions set out in these regulatory permits are met. General Export Permits (GEPs) are intended to facilitate exports by enabling exporters to export certain items without the need to obtain individual permits.

The following GEPs were in effect during 2023:

• GEP No. Ex. 1: Export of Goods for Special and Personal Use Permit
• GEP No. Ex. 3: Export of Consumable Stores Supplied to Vessels and Aircraft Permit
• GEP No. Ex. 5: Export of Logs Permit
• GEP No. 12: United States Origin Goods
• GEP No. Ex. 18: Portable Personal Computers and Associated Software
• GEP No. 37: Toxic Chemicals and Precursors to the United States
• GEP No. 38: Chemical Weapons Convention Toxic Chemical and Precursor Mixtures
• GEP No. 41: Dual-Use Goods and Technology to Certain Destinations
• GEP No. 43: Nuclear Goods and Technology to Certain Destinations
• GEP No. 44: Nuclear-Related Dual-Use Goods and Technology to Certain Destinations
• GEP No. 45: Cryptography for the Development or Production of a Product
• GEP No. 46: Cryptography for Use by Certain Consignees
• GEP No. 47: Export of Arms Trade Treaty Items to the United States

4.0 Import controls

Section 3 of the EIPA provides that the Governor in Council may establish a list of goods, to be called the ICL, including therein any article the import of which the Governor in Council deems necessary to control for purposes specified in the EIPA. A complete list of goods that are subject to import controls may be found on the import controls webpage.

Figure 1: Number of Import Permits for Controlled Goods in 2023*

*Between January 1 and December 31, 2023 (data based on submission of applications).

Figure 1 - Text version

Figure 1: Number of Import Permits for Controlled Goods in 2023*

Applications Rejected: 1,817

Permits Issued: 39,013

Permits Cancelled: 2,820

Figure 2: Number of Import Permits Issued by Sector in 2023*

*Between January 1 and December 31, 2023 (data based on submission of applications).

Figure 2 - Text version

Figure 2: Number of Import Permits Issued by Sector in 2023*

Wheat & barley: 213

Poultry – turkey: 357

Arms & ammunition: 1,064

Beef & veal: 2,335

CETA textile/apparel: 2,861

Eggs: 4,441

Poultry – chicken: 5,151

Dairy: 6,337

Clothing & textiles: 6,449

Cheese: 9,805

Total issued: 39,013

4.1 Textiles and clothing - tariff preference levels

Textile and clothing imports are controlled by various free trade agreements. These include CUSMA and FTAs with Chile, Costa Rica and Honduras. The agreements provide for preferential access for certain non-originating products through TPLs. 

All TPLs, for imports, are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the specified annual quantity under a free trade agreement has been fully utilized, non-originating apparel, textiles and made-up goods are subject to the Most Favored Nation tariff rate for the remainder of that TPL year.

Canadian importers require a shipment-specific import permit for all TPL imports into Canada within the negotiated quantity. TPL-eligible shipments entering Canada under a shipment-specific import permit can receive the same preferential tariff treatment as originating products, up to a negotiated quantity, as long as they are both cut (or knit to shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of a Party from fabric or yarn produced or obtained outside the territories of the Parties.

With the entry into force of CUSMA on July 1, 2020, the previous administration of TPLs under NAFTA was applied to TPLs under CUSMA. New rules for sewing thread became effective on July 1, 2021 and for narrow elastics and pocket lining on January 1, 2022. Under these new rules, goods of Chapter 61 and 62 that are produced in the United States or Mexico using non-originating sewing thread, pocket lining or narrow elastic may be eligible for duty-free treatment when imported into Canada under the applicable CUSMA TPL, regardless of the origin of the yarn or fabric used. There were no changes to the administration of TPLs for imports in 2023.

Table 10: Textiles and Clothing: CUSMA Tariff Preference Levels and Utilization for Imports to Canada in 2023*

*Canadian entry date between January 1 and December 31, 2023 for CUSMA and Honduras imports.
There were no TPL imports from Costa Rica and Chile in 2023.

CETA textiles and apparel

Imports of textiles and apparel from the EU and its Member States to Canada that are eligible under CETA origin quotas are subject to import controls under the EIPA. Accordingly, import permits are required for imports of these products in order to obtain the preferential tariff rate under CETA. The origin quotas specify the annual quantity of a product that can qualify as originating and receive preferential CETA tariff treatment. In order to receive this treatment, the product must meet the product description and undergo sufficient production to satisfy the applicable product-specific rule of origin associated with that origin quota. CETA contains growth factors for the textiles and apparel origin quotas that provide for an increase in the volume of the origin quotas if certain conditions are met.

Table 11: CETA Origin Quotas: Textiles and Apparel 2023*

*Canadian entry date between January 1 and December 31, 2023. Origin quotas with utilization of zero for the year 2023 are not included in the table.

Canada-U.K. TCA textiles and apparel

Imports of textiles and apparel from the U.K. to Canada that are eligible under the Canada-U.K. TCA origin quotas are subject to import controls under the EIPA. Accordingly, import permits are required for imports of these products in order to obtain the preferential tariff rate under the Canada-U.K. TCA. The origin quotas specify the annual quantity of a product that can qualify as originating and receive preferential tariff treatment. In order to receive this treatment, the product must meet the product description and undergo sufficient production to satisfy the applicable product-specific rule of origin associated with that origin quota. The Canada-U.K. TCA contains growth factors for the textiles and apparel origin quotas that provide for an increase in the volume of the origin quotas if certain conditions are met.

There was no utilization under the Canada-U.K. TCA import origin quotas in 2023. As articulated in paragraph 3 of Annex 5-A to the Protocol on Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures, the cessation of these annual quotas is scheduled to occur three years subsequent to the entry into force of the CUKTCA Agreement (i.e., April 1, 2021). As such, the ability to utilize these Canada-U.K. TCA origin quotas ceased as of April 1, 2024. This decision reflects the culmination of transitional provisions for these origin quotas, as delineated within the Canada-U.K. TCA.

4.2 Supply-managed products

Dairy, poultry and egg imports to Canada are subject to import controls under the EIPA. Preferential access is provided for imports of these products through TRQs.

Under these TRQs, imports are subject to zero or low within-access commitment rates of duty up to a predetermined limit (i.e. until the import access quantity has been reached), while imports over this limit are subject to higher over-access commitment rates of duty. Normally, only eligible applicants who obtain an import quota allocation are able to obtain shipment-specific permits to import goods at the within-access commitment rates of duty.

In 2023, there were no changes in allocation policies for the TRQs under CETA, CPTPP, CUSMA and WTO.

WTO TRQs

In 1995, Canada converted its existing quantitative agricultural import controls to a system of TRQs, with the coming into effect of the WTO.

All TRQs are based on Customs Tariff item numbers. When the TRQs came into effect in 1995, the ICL was amended to replace named products (e.g. turkey and turkey products) with tariff item numbers. For ease of understanding, the older product descriptions continue to be used in this report.

Poultry and eggs

Effective January 1, 1995, Canada's chicken, turkey, broiler hatching eggs and chicks, shell egg and egg product quantitative restrictions were converted to TRQs and were maintained on the ICL in order to support supply management of poultry under the Farm Products Marketing Act and to support action taken under the WTO Agreement Implementation Act.

Chicken and Chicken Products: The WTO Chicken and Chicken Products TRQ import access level is set at 39,843,700 kilograms.

Turkey and Turkey Products: Pursuant to CUSMA, the WTO Turkey and Turkey Products TRQ import access level is set at the higher of:

• a) 3.5% of the previous year’s domestic production or 3.5% of the current year’s domestic production quota + 1,000 tonnes, whichever is lower; and
• b) The WTO level of 5,588,000 kilograms, expressed in EE weight.

Eggs and Egg Products: The WTO Egg and Egg Products TRQ access level is set at 21,370,000 dozen on an egg equivalent basis. The access level is set in accordance with the following breakdown: 11,779,247 dozen for shell eggs; 5,106,486 dozen for liquid, frozen or further-processed egg products; and 4,484,267 dozen for egg powder.

Broiler Hatching Eggs and Chicks:Pursuant to CUSMA, the combined import access level for the WTO broiler hatching eggs and chicks TRQ is 21.1% of the estimated domestic production of broiler hatching eggs for the calendar year to which the TRQ applies. The combined annual import access level is divided into separate levels of 17.4% for broiler hatching eggs and 3.7% for egg-equivalent chicks.

Table 12: Poultry and Eggs: WTO TRQs*

*Canadian entry date between January 1 and December 31, 2023.

Dairy products

Quantitative restrictions in 12 categories of dairy products were converted to TRQs in support of supply management under the Canadian Dairy Commission Act.

Table 13: WTO TRQs*

*Canadian entry date between January 1 and December 31, 2023 unless otherwise stated.
**Reserved for cross-border shopping and it is considered to be fully used.
*** Milk protein substances, that do not originate in the U.S., Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, an EU country or other CETA beneficiary, or Israel.

CETA TRQs

As a result of the provisional application of CETA, Canada established two TRQs in 2017 for cheese originating from an EU country or other CETA beneficiary.

Table 14: CETA TRQs*

*Canadian entry date between January 1 and December 31, 2023.

CPTPP TRQs

As a result of the coming into force of the CPTPP, Canada established 20 TRQs for various supply-managed products (dairy, poultry and eggs) originating from a CPTPP member state. In accordance with CPTPP, certain TRQs are administered on different TRQ years, with some being based on a calendar year and others on a dairy or marketing year.

Table 15: CPTPP TRQs*

*Canadian entry date between January 1 and December 31, 2023 unless otherwise stated.

CUSMA TRQs

As a result of the coming into force of CUSMA, Canada established 16 TRQs in 2020 for various supply-managed products (dairy, poultry and eggs) originating from the U.S. In accordance with CUSMA, certain TRQs are administered on different TRQ years, with some being based on a calendar year and others on a dairy year.

Table 16: CUSMA TRQs*

*Canadian entry date between January 1 and December 31, 2023 unless otherwise stated.

Supplemental imports

Under the EIPA, the Minister may exercise discretion to authorize imports of products subject to TRQs apart from the import access quantity, if the Minister determines that the importation of these products is required to meet Canadian market needs. Supplemental import permits are normally issued for the following specified purposes:

• To address domestic market shortages;
• To assist Canadian manufacturers to compete with similar imported products that can enter Canada duty-free or at a low rate of duty (the Import-to-Compete Program);
• To assist Canadian manufacturers to compete in foreign markets (the Import for Re-Export Program (IREP));
• To facilitate test marketing in the Canadian market of new products that are, for example, unique or are produced with unique processes and that require a substantial capital investment for their production; or
• To address extraordinary or unusual circumstances.

Policies governing supplemental import permits for each commodity along with any updates are published under the “Notices to Importers” link on the supply-managed tariff rate quotas (TRQs) page that may be found on the Global Affairs Canada website.

Table 17: Poultry and Eggs: Supplemental Imports*

*Canadian entry date between January 1 and December 31, 2023

Table 18: Dairy - Supplemental Imports*

*Canadian entry date between January 1 and December 31, 2023, unless otherwise stated.

Imports in excess of TRQ access limits are permitted under General Import Permit No. 100 - Eligible Agricultural Goods, which allows unrestricted imports at the higher rate of duty.

4.3 Non-supply managed products

Other agriculture products subject to import controls are:

• Margarine;
• Wheat, barley and their products; and
• Beef and veal.

The WTO Margarine TRQ was introduced on January 1, 1995. The TRQ is administered on a first-come, first-served basis using a calendar year TRQ quota period. Shipment specific import permits are issued on demand for each shipment, until the access quantity is fully utilized or to the end of the TRQ year, whichever occurs first.

As part of Canada’s Uruguay Round commitments, the restrictions imposed on imports of wheat, barley and their products under the Canadian Wheat Board Act were converted to TRQs on August 1, 1995. These TRQs are administered by Global Affairs Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on a first-come, first-served basis using an August 1 to July 30 TRQ quota period. Importers may cite General Import Permit No. 20 - Wheat and Wheat Products, Barley and Barley Products to import goods at the lower rate of duty. Once the access levels are filled, importers must cite General Import Permit No. 100 - Eligible Agricultural Goods on customs entry documents to import goods at the higher rate of duty. Administrative measures are established to ensure full usage of quota, which sometimes results in imports at the within-access rate over the TRQ limit.

As part of Canada’s Uruguay Round commitments, the restrictions on imports of non-FTA beef and veal established under the Meat Import Act were converted to a TRQ on January 1, 1995. The TRQ applies to all imports of fresh, chilled and frozen beef and veal that do not originate in Chile, a CUSMA country, an EU member state, or the UK.

Table 19: Other agricultural product imports in 2023*

*Canadian entry date between January 1 and December 31, 2023.
**Rounded to nearest whole amount.
***Canadian entry date between August 1, 2022 and July 31, 2023 and rounded to the nearest whole amount.

4.4 Steel monitoring

Carbon steel products were initially added to the ICL, effective September 1, 1986, following a report by the Canadian Import Tribunal recommending the collection of information on goods of this type entering Canada. The carbon steel products are found in item 80 of the ICL and include semi-finished products (ingots, blooms, billets, slabs and sheet bars), plate, sheet and strip, wire rods, wire and wire products, railway-type products, bars, structural shapes and units, and pipes and tubes but excluding the specialty steel products referred to in item 81 of the ICL.

Specialty steel products were initially added to the ICL, effective June 1, 1987, pursuant to an amendment to the EIPA providing for import monitoring of steel products under certain conditions. These products are found in item 81 of the ICL and include stainless steel flat-rolled products (sheet, strip and plate), stainless steel bar, stainless steel pipe and tube, stainless steel wire and wire products, stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms, semi-finished products of stainless steel, alloy tool steel, mold steel and high speed steel.

The Steel Import Monitoring Program provides more timely steel import data than data available via the regular import reports produced by Statistics Canada. The online reports are available on the Steel import monitoring reports webpage. Steel products covered by these items must be imported under the authority of General Import Permit (GIP) No. 80 - Carbon Steel or GIP No. 81 - Specialty Steel Products. There are no quantitative restrictions for imports of these products and there are no fees for using the GIPs.

The steel GIPs were amended on August 23, 2019, to include reporting and recordkeeping requirements. The requirements were added to enable the verification of import data, by requiring importers to provide, upon request, documents and records for the purpose of identifying any errors in import data and determining the source of any inconsistencies in a targeted manner. Global Affairs Canada undertakes enhanced analysis and verification of the information found on customs declaration forms and shipping documents to facilitate the correction of errors when potential inconsistencies are discovered.

Further to the Joint Statement by Canada and the United States on Section 232 Duties on Steel and Aluminum, issued on May 17, 2019, carbon and specialty steel products were re-added to the ICL on November 2, 2020, pursuant to paragraph 5(1)(e) of the EIPA. This eliminated the need for these products to be re-added to the ICL every three years in order for the program to continue and for an annual statistical summary to be tabled in Parliament. The information contained in the annual statistical summary is publicly available through the abovementioned online reports.  

In January 2023, industry classifications used in the public steel import monitoring reports were deleted, amended, or replaced based on stakeholder input. These changes were made following Harmonized System (HS) Code changes in January 2022 to better reflect the list of HS Codes covered under General Import Permits No. 80 and 81 and to better clarify or distinguish various commodity descriptions.

4.5 Aluminum monitoring

Further to the Joint Statement by Canada and the United States on Section 232 Duties on Steel and Aluminum, issued on May 17, 2019, aluminum products were added to the ICL, under item 83, on September 1, 2019, pursuant to paragraph 5(1)(e). GIP No. 83 – Aluminum Products, applicable to products under item 83, was also issued on September 1, 2019. Item 83 includes the following aluminum products:

• Alloyed and not alloyed unwrought aluminum products; and
• Wrought aluminum products limited to:
  • Bars
  • Rods
  • Profiles
  • Wires
  • Plates
  • Sheets
  • Strips
  • Foils
  • Tubes and pipes
  • Tube and pipe fittings
  • Other articles of castings and forgings

The addition of aluminum products to the ICL enabled the implementation of the Aluminum Import Monitoring Program. The above products must be imported under the authority of the GIP No. 83 – Aluminum Products. There is no limit to the quantity of aluminum products covered under item 83 that may be imported into Canada and there are no fees for using the GIP.

The GIP allows Global Affairs Canada to have access to import data and make it publicly available in an expedited manner. The online reports are available on the Aluminum import monitoring reports webpage.

The GIP is also equipped with reporting and recordkeeping requirements to enable the verification of import data, by requiring importers to provide, upon request, documents and records for the purpose of identifying any errors in import data and determining the source of any inconsistencies in a targeted manner. In addition, Global Affairs Canada undertakes enhanced analysis and verification of the information found on customs declaration forms and shipping documents to facilitate the correction of data errors when potential inconsistencies are discovered.

4.6 Weapons, munitions and chemicals

Pursuant to items 70 to 73 and 91 of the ICL, a permit is required to import into Canada all small- and large-calibre weapons, ammunition, bombs, pyrotechnics, tanks and self-propelled guns. As well, all components and parts specifically designed for these items require import permits. Firearms legally classified as non-restricted, and their parts, are exempted from the import permit requirement. As described in section 2.2. Import Controls Policy, temporary import control measures requiring an individual permit for the import of restricted handguns into Canada, which came into effect on August 19, 2022, and set out in Notice to Importers No. 1090, remained in place until December 15, 2023. As of that date, with the Royal Assent of amendments to the Firearms Act under former Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms), and pursuant to Notice to Importers No. 1106, an individual import permit is not required for the re-importation of a lawfully registered restricted handgun into Canada by individuals holding a valid possession and acquisition licence (PAL) and registration certificate for the firearm. An import permit would be a redundant level of control given that CBSA now requires proof of compliance under the amended Firearms Act before allowing the import of these firearms into Canada. Import permits are required for new imports for police/military/movie/theatrical purposes, and for new imports of restricted handguns to train, compete or coach in a handgun shooting discipline that is on the programme of the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee. All other import applications for restricted handguns will normally be denied.

Manufacturers and businesses licensed by the Provincial Chief Firearms Officers may import prohibited weapons, prohibited firearms and prohibited devices under strictly controlled conditions.

Since 2013, broad-based Import Permit Letters were introduced for low-risk, high-volume commercial importers of firearms and related goods, leading to a significant reduction of import permit applications for weapons, munitions and chemicals issued annually.

Figure 3: Number of Import Permits for Weapons, Munitions and Chemicals in 2023*

*Between January 1 and December 31, 2023 (data based on submission of applications).

Figure 3 - Text version

Figure 3 : Number of Import Permits for Weapons, Munitions and Chemicals in 2023*

Applications Rejected: 89

Permits Issued: 1,064

Permits Cancelled: 3

4.7 International import certificates and delivery verification certificates

The issuance of International Import Certificates (IICs) and Delivery Verification Certificates (DVCs) is provided for under section 9 of the EIPA and under the Import Certificate Regulations (C.R.C., c. 603). IICs enable an importer to describe goods in detail and to certify that they will not assist in their disposal or diversion during transit. Such assurances may be required by the country of export before permitting the shipment of certain goods, most notably munitions and strategic goods. An IIC is not an import permit and does not entitle the holder to import the goods described on the certificate into Canada. DVCs may be issued following arrival of the goods in Canada to enable an exporter of goods to Canada to comply with requirements of the exporting country. 

Since 2011, IIC letters have been issued to trusted high-volume importers, and this has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of individual certificates issued.

4.8 General import permits

The EIPA provides for the issuance of general permits authorizing the import of certain designated goods to all destinations or to specified destinations. GIPs are intended to facilitate imports by enabling importers to import selected goods without applying for individual permits.

The following GIPs were in effect during 2023:

• GIP No. 1: Dairy Products for Personal Use
• GIP No. 2: Chickens and Chicken Products for Personal Use
• GIP No. 3: Wheat and Wheat Products and Barley and Barley Products for Personal Use
• GIP No. 6: Roses for Personal Use
• GIP No. 7: Turkeys and Turkey Products for Personal Use
• GIP No. 8: Eggs for Personal Use
• GIP No. 13: Beef and Veal for Personal Use
• GIP No. 14: Margarine for Personal Use
• GIP No. 20: Wheat and Wheat Products and Barley and Barley Products
• GIP No. 60: Import of Arms Permit
• GIP No. 80: Carbon Steel
• GIP No. 81: Specialty Steel Products
• GIP No. 83: Aluminum Products
• GIP No. 100: Eligible Agriculture Goods
• GIP No. 108: Chemical Weapons Convention Toxic Chemicals and Precursors

5.0 Offences under the Export and Import Permits Act

There were no convictions for offences under the EIPA during the 2023 calendar year.

Penalties are listed in subsection 19 of the EIPA as follows:

• (1) Every person or organization that contravenes any provision of this Act or of the regulations is guilty of
  • (a) an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to a fine not exceeding $250,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both; or
  • (b) an indictable offence and liable to a fine in an amount that is in the discretion of the court or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or to both.
• (2) A prosecution under paragraph [19](1)(a) may be instituted at any time within but not later than three years after the time when the subject-matter of the complaint arose.

Section 25 of the EIPA delegates responsibility for the enforcement of the EIPA to all officers as defined in the Customs Act (subsection 2(1)). The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) enforce the provisions of the EIPA.

Export control enforcement continued to be a key element in Canada's export control system in 2023. Global Affairs Canada works closely with enforcement agencies, in particular the CBSA and the RCMP. Upon receipt of information relating to an unauthorized export or import of controlled items, Global Affairs Canada may, depending on the circumstances of the case, refer the matter to the RCMP or CBSA for investigation and decision as to whether to proceed with administrative measures and/or penalties or criminal charges. Global Affairs Canada also routinely provides assistance, expert advice and investigative support to the CBSA, RCMP and other investigative agencies.

Alleged violations may come to the attention of Global Affairs Canada directly (e.g. a Canadian exporter or importer may bring forward a suspected violation) or indirectly, as a result of an inspection and/or audit.

Potential violations may also be identified in the course of CBSA operations at border control locations and major ports of entry and exit. CBSA may detain a shipment, referring to the appropriate department, including Global Affairs Canada, to verify that legislative and regulatory requirements controlling exports (e.g. export controls under the EIPA, sanctions, licences from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for nuclear-related items) have been met.

Global Affairs Canada recognizes that, on occasion, responsible exporters and importers inadvertently fail to comply with the EIPA. Exporters and importers finding themselves in such a situation are encouraged to disclose any incidents of non-compliance to Global Affairs Canada as soon as possible.

If, after considering the information provided, Global Affairs Canada is satisfied that the exporter has fully cooperated, no further action may be warranted. Depending on the gravity or overall circumstances of a case, Global Affairs Canada may nonetheless refer disclosures to the CBSA or RCMP for further review.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs has the authority to designate inspectors, who for any purpose related to the administration or enforcement of the EIPA may inspect, audit or examine the records of any person who has applied for an authorization under the EIPA. Such activities are conducted to ensure compliance with the EIPA, its associated regulations and established policies, including eligibility criteria associated with various TRQs.

Global Affairs Canada has verification teams deployed to four major metropolitan areas to support the administration of import and export permits: Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Between 150 and 200 verification inspections are conducted annually.

6.0 Performance standards

Global Affairs Canada is committed to providing clients with prompt and reliable service based on Canadian export and import controls statutes, regulations and policies.

Our aims are to:

• Foster an orderly processing of controlled imports into and exports from Canada;
• Implement our commitments under international agreements; and
• Ensure that the administration of trade controls under the authority of the EIPA is carried out smoothly and without undue hindrance to Canadian exporters, importers and consumers.

Please consult the Global Affairs Canada website for more information on our Service Pledge.

In order to fulfill our responsibilities under the EIPA, Global Affairs Canada has established service standards. In 2023, these were:

• Non-Routed Non-Strategic Permits: The target for processing import and export permit applications not automatically redirected to a permit officer (non-routed) in the New Export and Import Controls System (NEICS) - within 15 business minutes of receipt.
• Non-Strategic Goods: The target for processing import and export permit applications automatically redirected (routed) to a permit officer in the NEICS - within four business hours of receipt.
• Military, dual-use and strategic goods: The target for processing permit applications to export controlled strategic goods or technology in the New Export Controls Online System (NEXCOL) - within 10 business days for complete applications not requiring consultations outside the Trade and Export Controls Bureau; or, within 40 business days for complete applications that do require consultations outside the Trade and Export Controls Bureau.
• Logs: The target for processing log permit applications for log exports - within three business days.

In 2023, a total of 284,734 permit applications were processed within NEICS and NEXCOL (data based on permits processed between January 1 and December 31, 2023), of which approximately 99.40 %^{Footnote 1} of them (283,167) were processed within the allotted service periods. Further detail on the specific service standards for military, dual-use and strategic permits may be found in the 2023 Report on Exports of Military Goods and Technology. Additional details concerning service standards and historical performance, by fiscal year, can also be found on our service standards report in the context of its reporting on high-volume regulatory authorizations.

7.0 References

7.1 General data notes

Data discrepancies: There may be discrepancies with other published data given that permits may be subsequently amended or cancelled, or issued retroactively. This results in changes to numbers pulled at different points in time.

Quota utilization: There are certain instances when quota utilization is zero. This can occur for a number of commercial reasons, including: challenging competitive market dynamics negatively impacting the commercial viability of exports/imports; more favorable business conditions in other markets; high transport costs (especially for perishable goods such as dairy); and a potential lack of awareness by Canadian exporters/importers of the opportunities presented by the quotas, especially where FTAs are relatively new.

7.2 Definitions

Cancelled: Permits may be cancelled for reasons such as: permit expired; goods never arrived at the border; amendments to the permit were necessary; at the request of the applicant as the permit is no longer required; policy reasons at the direction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs; etc.

Note regarding strategic exports: Permits that have been cancelled are no longer valid for the export of goods or technology. An issued export permit can also be suspended for policy reasons and reinstated later.

Issued: Total permits granted to importers or exporters to import goods into or export goods from Canada.

Applicable to Non-Strategic Export Permits and Import Permits Only:

Rejected: Permit applications are normally rejected owing to issues such as insufficient or incorrect information, insufficient quota etc.

Applicable to Military, Dual-use and Strategic Export Permits Only:

Denied: A permit may be denied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, either directly by the Minister or by departmental officials further to policy direction received from the Minister. This occurs in fewer than 1% of cases annually and is generally for reasons related to Canada's foreign and defence policies, as provided in the criteria for controlling the export of military, dual use and strategic goods outlined in section 3.2.

Returned Without Action: A permit application is returned without action by Global Affairs Canada if it is administratively incomplete, or if there is inconsistent information. A company that wishes to pursue the export is required to submit a new permit application.

Withdrawn: Permit applications may be withdrawn either at the request of the exporter or if the exporter is advised by Global Affairs Canada that a permit is not required. An exporter may decide to withdraw their application if the permit is no longer required because the commercial contract has fallen through, if a change to the contract requires them to resubmit the information under a separate application, or if the exporter becomes aware of political, commercial, or other types of risk that may affect their application and decides not to pursue the opportunity. An application may also be withdrawn if the goods or technology proposed for export are not controlled, if the items are controlled but a permit is not required for their export to the U.S., or if a General Export Permit applies. All of these situations are captured in the category of withdrawn permits.

7.3 Glossary

ACL

Area Control List

AFCCL

Automatic Firearms Country Control List

ATT

Arms Trade Treaty

BCL

Brokering Control List

BTQ

Below-threshold quantity

CBP

U.S. Customs and Borders Protection

CBSA

Canada Border Services Agency

Canada-U.K. TCA

Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement

CETA

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

CITT

Canadian International Trade Tribunal

CPTPP

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

CUSMA

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement

DVC

Delivery Verification Certificate

ECL

Export Control List

EE

Eviscerated Equivalent

EIPA

Export and Import Permits Act

EU

European Union

FTA

Free Trade Agreement

GAC

Global Affairs Canada

GBP1

General Brokering Permit No. 1

GEP

General Export Permit

GIP

General Import Permit

HS

Harmonized System

ICL

Import Control List

IIC

International Import Certificate

IREP

Import for Re-Export Program

MPC

Milk Protein Concentrate

NAFTA

North America Free Trade Agreement

NEICS 

New Export and Import Controls System

NEXCOL

New Export Controls System Online

RCMP

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

SCPs

Sugar-Containing Products

SME

Square Meter Equivalents

SMP

Skim Milk Powder

TPL

Tariff Preference Level

TRQs

Tariff Rate Quotas

U.K.

United Kingdom

U.S.

United States

WA

Wassenaar Arrangement

WTO

World Trade Organization