Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties in Canada: What Importers Need to Know
Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties in Canada: What Importers Need to Know Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are among the most misunderstood and financially risky areas of Canadian import compliance. These trade remedy measures are designed to protect Canadian industries from unfair foreign competition, but for importers, they can create unexpected duty liabilities that far exceed normal customs costs. Importers dealing in steel, aluminum, chemicals, textiles, machinery, and industrial inputs are particularly exposed. Understanding how these duties work, when they apply, and how they are calculated is essential to protecting margins and avoiding serious compliance issues. What Are Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Anti-dumping duties apply when imported goods are sold in Canada at prices lower than their normal value in the exporter’s domestic market. Countervailing duties apply when foreign governments subsidize goods in a way that causes injury to Canadian producers. In Canada, these measures are governed by the Special Import Measures