18 April 2000

PC 2000-516

The date on which An Act to amend the Special Import Measures Act and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act came into force was fixed as 15 April 2000.

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18 April 2000

PC 2000-517

PC 2000-517 is Regulations amending the Special Import Measures Regulations.

The amendments to the regulations complement Bill C-35, An Act to Amend the Special Import Measures Act and Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act, which received Royal Assent on 25 March 1999.

The regulatory amendments will ensure greater transparency by setting out factors to be considered in injury investigations, public interest enquiries, and expiry reviews under the SIMA. The amendments also clarify certain existing regulatory provisions and render these Regulations consistent with the coming into force of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Act on 1 November 1999.

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18 April 2000

PC 2000-518

PC 2000-518 is Rules Amending the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Rules.

These Rules are designed to streamline the Tribunal's procedures, expedite the hearing of matters, and provide for new procedures to reflect recent amendments to the CITT Act and the Special Import Measures Act, and to reflect the trade commitments as a result of the World Trade Organization Agreement Implementation Act, the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement and the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement.

In addition, the Rules contain amendments that flow from the recent amendments to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act and the Special Import Measures Act contained in Bill C-35. These amendments deal primarily with four areas:

(1) notice provisions
(2) exchange of information between the Tribunal and CCRA regarding preliminary enquiry and review proceedings
(3) proceedings governing the conduct of interim and expiry reviews of existing orders and findings
(4) disclosure of confidential information to counsel who are not resident of Canada and to expert witnesses.

Rules 62 and 63 are repealed as a result of amendments to section 45 of the SIMA and the introduction of detailed regulations to public interest proceedings amending the Special Import Measures Regulations.

The new Rules also amend the earlier Rules. Although the same basic framework has been maintained, numerous changes have been made within that framework. These Rules are intended to provide comprehensive and transparent guidance to parties appearing before the Tribunal, and generally to facilitate fair and efficient Tribunal proceedings.