Canada to target smuggling steel intended to dodge US tariffs

Canada will act to prevent the smuggling of cheap steel and aluminum into the North American market to avoid new U.S. tariffs on the metals,
Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau said this Tuesday in a statement. Under new measures unveiled by Trudeau’s office on Tuesday, the Canada Border Services Agency will gain new powers to stop companies that try to dodge duties.
Trudeau said earlier this month he was aware of concerns that countries facing the tariffs could try to ship supplies through Canada and pretend the metals had been produced in Canadian facilities.
“We will not allow North American industries to be hurt or threatened by unfair trade practices, like the diversion of steel and aluminum … Canada will not be used as a backdoor into other North American markets,”
According to Reuters, Canada will also coordinate more closely with its partners to strengthen border enforcement and meet more often with the United States and Mexico, its partners in the NAFTA trade pact, to discuss problems facing the steel and aluminum industries.
Canada is the biggest supplier of steel and aluminum to the United States. The measures will come into force after a 15-day consultation period.
Trump imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico but suspended them temporarily, saying his final decision would depend on how much progress was made at talks to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement.