International Trade

Operating in a global economy presents a wide range of challenges. Each country has its own specific rules regulating trade, financing and investment. There are restrictions on imports and exports, customs, tax liabilities, ownership rules and a host of varied circumstances that make international business law particularly complex.

Our International Trade lawyers have extensive backgrounds and experience in all facets of international trade law and provide top-quality advice and strategies to public- and private-sector clients on all aspects of international trade in Canada, including:

Duties and taxes payable on imports, customs valuation, tariff classification, rules of origin determination and country of origin marking

Customs compliance, administration, dispute resolution and litigation, voluntary disclosures, seizures and forfeitures, verifications, and appeals

Customs and trade remedies, including dumping and subsidy investigations, injury proceedings, public interest investigations, expiry reviews and safeguard actions

Canada’s interprovincial and international trade agreements

Economic sanctions and export controls

Controlled goods program

Cross-border-trade due diligence

Anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and foreign corruption laws

Government procurement

Investment treaty arbitration

Recent Experience

A significant producer of petroleum-based products located in the Middle East on consistency with WTO anti-dumping rules to related to its international sales of goods in world markets.
POSCO and Dongkuk Steel Mill Co., Ltd., one of the largest integrated steel manufacturers in Korea, in an anti-dumping injury inquiry before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal dealing with hot rolled carbon steel plate.
The acquisition of a heavily regulated military goods business, including trade-related due diligence and compliance advice in connection with the Controlled Goods Program under the Defence Production Act, the Export and Import Permits Act, and the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act.
A global leader in farming and agricultural manufacturing equipment on economic sanctions enacted by Canada unilaterally against Russia pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act.
Capstone Infrastructure Corporation’s subsidiary partnerships in the Canadian International Trade Tribunal’s anti-dumping inquiry into wind towers imported from China.
A leading U.K. law firm on the potential extradition of non-Canadian directors from overseas corporate operations.
Cooper Lighting Solutions Canada on its Canada Border Services Agency verification review and subsequent reverification request.
A leading Canadian aircraft modification company on controlled-goods restrictions, export controls and a related arbitral dispute with a Turkish military contractor at the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Geneva.
A large Canadian mining company on procuring dual-use, military-grade navigation equipment for its mining business — the equipment was controlled under U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations and could not be imported into or possessed in Canada without registration in the Controlled Goods Program under Canada’s Defence Production Act.
An industrial manufacturer on the application of Canadian sanctions laws as they were enacted, including providing ongoing advice, and the applicability of the New York Convention and the principles of public and private international law in Canada.
An international agricultural supplier on compliance with Canadian export controls and forced labour legislation.
A U.K. arbitration firm on the application of Canadian sanctions to an international arbitration concerning a major energy project in Central Asia.