Customs Notice 24-38: Amendments to the GIP number 80 – Carbon steel and GIP number 81 – Specialty steel products

Ottawa, November 5, 2024

1. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) assists Global Affairs Canada (GAC) with the administration of the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA), including the import requirements for the importation of goods included on the Import Control List (ICL).

2. General Import Permits (GIP) allow for the importation of certain eligible goods included on the ICL, subject to the terms and conditions described in the permit, without having to obtain a specific import permit. The applicable GIP constitutes the permit authorizing the importation of goods.

3. As of November 5, 2024, under the GIP Number 80 – Carbon Steel, and the GIP Number 81 – Specialty Steel Products, at the time of importation, importers are required under the regulatory changes to specify the country of melt and pour (COM) information in the form and manner determined by the CBSA. At this time, the provision of COM information is required when importers complete their customs declarations through the CBSA’s Single Window (SW) Integrated Import Declaration (IID) for applicable steel imports as a term and condition of using the GIPs.

Note: While the CBSA has notified importers that the conditional COM rules are not expected to be implemented in the SW IID on November 5, importers are nonetheless required by regulation to provide COM information, which is possible via the SW IID. The COM field has been available in the SW IID on an optional basis since February 2024.

4. Exemptions: The provision of COM information is not mandatory for:

• importers under the CBSA’s Customs-Self Assessment (CSA) Program when releasing the applicable steel goods under the CSA program (please refer to section 2 of the Accounting for Imported Goods Regulations for further information on the meaning of a CSA Importer and eligible goods),
• the imported steel goods covered by GIPs No. 80 and 81 when the total value for duty does not exceed $5,000, or
• certain finished steel products:
  • cold-formed or cold-finished angles, shapes or sections;
  • welded angles, shapes, or sections;
  • switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods or other crossing pieces for railway or tramway track construction;
  • structures, parts of structures or structural plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes or the like;
  • stranded wire, ropes, cables or the like, not electrically insulated;
  • barbed wires or fencing wires; or
  • wire nails, tacks, pins, staples or the like.

5. For additional details on submitting Integrated Import Declaration and accounting information to the CBSA for steel goods, please refer to the Memorandum D19-10-2: Administration of the Export and Import Permits Act (Importations).

6. For more information regarding the regulatory amendments for the collection and publication of country of melt and pour information, please refer to the Steel import control website which will include an updated Notice to Importers for GIPs Numbers 80 and 81 or contact:

Steel and Aluminum Import Monitoring
North American Trade Policy and Negotiations Bureau
Global Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
Email: steel-acier@international.gc.ca

7. For more information regarding the CBSA's programs and services, please contact the Border Information Service (BIS) line. Within Canada, you can call BIS toll-free at 1-800-461-9999. From outside Canada, please call 204-983-3500 or506-636-5064 (long-distance charges will apply). Agents are available Monday to Friday (8 am to 4 pm local time, except holidays). TTY is also available within Canada at 1-866-335-3237.