US Replies to Canada's WTO Complaint

March 18, 2025

The U.S. has issued a reply to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in response to the complaint submitted by Canada on March 4, 2025, see Trade News article: https://cscb.ca/en/article/canada-initiates-wto-dispute-complaint-regarding-us-steel-and-aluminium-duties

Link to the WTO site: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds634_e.htm

They state that the tariffs imposed against Canada are "issues of national security are political matters not susceptible to review or capable of resolution by WTO dispute settlement. Every Member of the WTO retains the authority to determine for itself those measures that it considers necessary to the protection of its essential security interests, as is reflected in the text of Article XXI of the GATT 1994.".

Despite that, the U.S. will accept Canada's request to enter into consultations on a mutually convenient date.

Please click this link for the full response / WTO pdf document: https://cscb.ca/en/media/document/us-reply-wto-complaint

Topic(s)

U.S. Tariffs and Canadian Retaliatory Surtax

Security and Trade Facilitation Programs

International Trade and Border Management

Disclaimer

The foregoing information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered, professional advice or a substitute for conducting your own thorough research and review. Before making any decisions or taking any action based on the information provided, you should conduct your own independent investigation and/or seek professional advice from a qualified expert in the relevant field. The CSCB disclaims all liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided.

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