Certain Steel Goods Importation Subject to Surtax Order

Information c/o Government of Canada, Canada Border Services Agency

Effective June 27, 2025, Certain Steel Goods will be subject to Surtax of 50% under a quarterly Quota basis. Global Affairs Canada (GAC) issues Import Permits on a per shipment basis up to 15 days prior to the expected date of arrival in Canada. The permit is valid up to 5 days prior and 14 days after the date of arrival in Canada.

GAC will be monitoring the quantities for quota utilization. Importers are responsible for consulting GAC’s online reports to track quota availability. CBSA will automatically apply the Surtax to all shipments without a shipment-specific permit, regardless of whether a permit is pending or unavailable at time of clearance. There is no limit to the quantities of steel that may enter Canada under General Import Permits (GIP), but such imports will be subject to the 50% Surtax.

It is important to note that valid permits only relate to this order and do not relieve any other customs duties, anti-dumping, countervailing duties, surtaxes, or taxes. Surtaxes and/or SIMA are stackable. End use tariff items under Chapter 99 will not remove the 50% Surtax.

Importers must provide the Import Permit or GIP along with Country of Melt and Pour (COM) information to obtain release of the goods into Canada.

Goods in transit up to June 27th are exempt and must provide proof by way of Bills of Lading.

Attached is a list of applicable tariffs and countries exempt from this order.

What This Means For You, The Importer

• Check your Steel Products
  • If your goods fall under the tariff codes listed in Schedule 1, they are subject to quota restrictions and the 50% surtax applies beyond those quotas.
     
• Apply for Import Permits Early
  • Shipment-specific permits can be requested up to 15 days before your steel arrives in Canada. Without a valid permit, the 50% surtax will be charged automatically at the time of clearance.
     
• Track Quota Usage
  • Global Affairs Canada monitors available quotas in real-time. It’s your responsibility to check quota levels before shipping to Canada to avoid unexpected costs.
     
• Prepare Documentation
  • To release your goods, you must present:
    • A valid Import Permit, or General Import Permit (GIP) if applicable
    • Country of Melt and Pour (COM) information
    • Proof of goods in transit before June 27th (e.g., Bills of Lading) if claiming exemption
       
• Factor in Stackable Duties
  • A valid Import Permit only covers this surtax. Other duties, including anti-dumping, countervailing duties, SIMA measures, or additional surtaxes, may still apply.
     
• Plan for Costs
  • If your shipment exceeds available quota or arrives without the required permit, a 50% surtax applies, significantly increasing landed costs.

Importation Quotas

Schedule 1 contains a complete list of goods subject to the surtax, specifically the steel products and their tariff classifications (HS codes) that are subject to the surtax or fall under the quota system. The value for duty is determined in accordance with sections 47 to 55 of the Customs Act.

SCHEDULE 1
Importation Quotas (Subsections 2(1) and (3) and paragraph 3(d))
Product Category	Applicable Tariff Classifications	Quota for each 3-Month Quarterly Period (tonnes)	Maximum Share of Total Quota per Country
Flat	7208.10.00; 7208.25.00; 7208.26.00; 7208.27.00; 7208.36.00; 7208.37.00; 7208.38.00; 7208.39.00; 7208.40.00; 7208.51.00; 7208.52.00; 7208.53.00; 7208.54.00; 7208.90.00; 7209.15.00; 7209.16.00; 7209.17.00; 7209.18.00; 7209.25.00; 7209.26.00; 7209.27.00; 7209.28.00; 7209.90.00; 7210.11.00; 7210.12.00; 7210.49.00; 7210.50.00; 7210.61.00; 7210.69.00; 7210.70.00; 7210.90.00; 7211.14.00; 7211.19.00; 7211.23.00; 7211.29.00; 7211.90.00; 7212.10.00; 7212.30.00; 7212.40.00; 7212.50.00; 7225.19.00; 7225.30.00; 7225.40.00; 7225.50.00; 7225.91.00; 7225.92.00; 7225.99.00; 7226.91.00; 7226.92.00; 7226.99.00	186,856	36%
Long	7213.10.00; 7213.20.00; 7213.91.00; 7213.99.00; 7214.10.00; 7214.20.00; 7214.91.00; 7214.99.00; 7216.10.00; 7216.21.00; 7216.22.00; 7216.31.00; 7216.32.00; 7216.33.00; 7216.40.00; 7216.50.00; 7216.99.00; 7217.10.00; 7217.20.00; 7217.30.00; 7217.90.00; 7224.10.00; 7227.10.00; 7227.20.00; 7227.90.00; 7228.30.00; 7228.40.00; 7228.50.00; 7228.60.00; 7228.70.00; 7228.80.00; 7229.20.00; 7229.90.00; 7301.10.00; 7301.20.00	178,512	28%
Pipe and Tube	7304.19.00; 7304.22.00; 7304.23.00; 7304.24.00; 7304.29.00; 7304.39.00; 7304.59.00; 7304.90.00; 7305.11.00; 7305.12.00; 7305.19.00; 7305.20.00; 7305.31.00; 7305.39.00; 7305.90.00; 7306.19.00; 7306.29.00; 7306.30.00; 7306.50.00; 7306.61.00; 7306.69.00; 7306.90.00	117,406	47%
Semi-finished	7206.10.00; 7206.90.00; 7207.11.00; 7207.12.00; 7207.19.00; 7207.20.00; 7224.90.00	152,383	72%
Stainless	7218.10.00; 7218.91.00; 7218.99.00; 7222.30.00; 7222.40.00; 7304.49.00	5,568	91%

Exemptions

Steel goods originating in a country not listed in Schedule 2 to the Order Imposing a Surtax on the Importation of Certain Steel Goods are subject to surtax, even when exported from a country listed in Schedule 2.

SCHEDULE 2
Exempted Countries (Paragraph 3(b))
Australia	Estonia	Korea	Poland
Austria	Finland	Latvia	Portugal
Belgium	France	Liechtenstein	Romania
Brunei Darussalam	Germany	Lithuania	Singapore
Bulgaria	Greece	Luxembourg	Slovakia
Canada	Honduras	Malaysia	Slovenia
Chile	Hungary	Malta	Spain
Colombia	Iceland	Mexico	Sweden
Costa Rica	Ireland	Netherlands	Switzerland
Croatia	Israel	New Zealand	Ukraine
Cyprus	Italy	Norway	United Kingdom
Czechia	Japan	Panama	United States
Denmark	Jordan	Peru	Vietnam

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid unnecessary costs and delays by watching for these common pitfalls:

• Assuming GIP Exempts Surtax
  • General Import Permits (GIP) allow unlimited importation, but all GIP shipments still face the 50% surtax. Only shipment-specific permits prevent the surtax, provided they are obtained in advance and within quota limits.
     
• Shipping Without Checking Quota Levels
  • Quota fills quickly. If the quota is exhausted when your goods arrive, even if a permit is pending, the 50% surtax applies. Always consult Global Affairs Canada’s Quota Monitoring System before shipping.
     
• Missing Permit Deadlines
  • Import Permits are valid from 5 days before to 14 days after the expected arrival date. Applying late or incorrect timing can void the permit, triggering the surtax.
     
• Inadequate Documentation
  • Failure to provide the required Country of Melt and Pour (COM) documentation or proof of goods in transit prior to June 27th will result in delays or the application of surtax.
     
• Overlooking Additional Duties
  • Even with a valid permit, you may still face anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, SIMA measures, or other surtaxes. These apply separately and are stackable.

Let Us Handle the Details

Navigating quotas, permits, and surtaxes can be time-consuming and costly if mishandled.
Our experienced Customs Consultants can manage the process for you so you can focus on your business, while we handle the paperwork, permits, and compliance.

Further Resources

• CBSA: Customs Notice 25-24: Order Imposing a Surtax on the Importation of Certain Steel Goods
• Government of Canada: Notice to Importers: Item 82 – Steel Goods – Serial No.1139
• Orders in Council PC Number: 2025-0534
• Department of Finance: Tariff-rate Quotas on Imports of Steel Mill Products
• Government of Canada: Steel Import Monitoring Program