Modernize Canada’s Special Import Measures Act • YouBetcha

Current Status

Status: Not Started

No concrete actions have been taken by the Carney government to modernize the Special Import Measures Act as promised.

Background

Canada's Special Import Measures Act governs trade remedies like anti-dumping and countervailing duties, designed to protect domestic industries from unfair foreign competition. During the 2025 federal election campaign, Mark Carney pledged to modernize the act amid shifting global trade dynamics, including potential disruptions from U.S. policies and risks of circumvention or diversion of goods to evade tariffs. Fulfilling this would require legislative changes to update tools for addressing these issues, such as explicit timelines for safeguard measures, building on past efforts like those in 2022 under the Trudeau government that amended the act to strengthen enforcement against massive importations and expiry reviews. Carney's promise aimed to adapt the framework to current realities, ensuring Canadian industries like steel remain competitive without relying on prior administrations' work.

Evidence

The Carney government has not taken any concrete, tangible actions toward modernizing the Special Import Measures Act since taking office. A November 26, 2025, announcement from the Prime Minister's Office outlined new measures to protect and transform Canada's steel and lumber industries amid global trade disruptions, but this was limited to a press release and did not include legislative or policy changes specific to the act [5]. No legislation has been tabled to update trade remedy tools for circumvention or diversion, nor have express timelines for safeguard actions been legislated. Departmental plans for 2025-26 and 2026-27 from Global Affairs Canada reference ongoing trade programs but contain no new initiatives tied to this modernization [7,8]. An October 8, 2025, memorandum from the Canada Border Services Agency updated administrative review policies under the act, but this predates Carney's swearing-in and reflects prior government actions [1].

Assessment

More than a year into Mark Carney's tenure as prime minister, his campaign promise to modernize the Special Import Measures Act remains untouched. The government has issued announcements about protecting key industries like steel amid international trade shifts, but these stop short of the legislative updates required to address circumvention, diversion, or timelines for safeguard actions. Without verifiable steps like tabling bills or implementing new regulations, the pledge lacks momentum, leaving Canadian trade remedies reliant on outdated frameworks despite the evolving global landscape.

This stasis contrasts with the urgency Carney emphasized during the 2025 campaign, when he highlighted the need to respond to new trade realities. Sources show no evidence of progress, such as amendments to the act or related policies initiated under his administration. As deadlines for economic adaptation loom, the absence of action raises questions about the government's commitment to bolstering trade tools essential for industries facing foreign competition.