Canada Extends Steel Import Permit Validity Effective September 11
The permit validity change builds on the measures introduced earlier this year, whereby Canada imposed a 50% surtax and TRQ limits on certain steel imports.
As of September 11, 2025, steel import permits are valid for 30 days around the importer’s declared date of entry. This includes five days prior to entry and 24 days after.
Previously, permits expired after a shorter 20-day window, covering five days before and 14 days after entry.
This update was introduced as part of the Notice to Importers issued on August 1, 2025, which set out new procedures for administering tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on certain steel goods.
The September 11 adjustment is part of a broader framework of steel import controls.
Certain steel products listed under Item 82 of the Import Control List (ICL) are subject to TRQs when imported from countries outside Canada’s free trade agreements.
These quotas place a cap on how much steel of specific product categories can enter Canada from non-FTA sources without additional duties.
Shipments that exceed the TRQ allocation, or that arrive without a valid steel import permit, are subject to a 50% surtax.
The new import validity rule takes effect in the middle of a transitional quota period running from August 1 to September 25, 2025.
As of September 26, 2025, quotas will return to three-month cycles:
To qualify under the TRQs and not be subject to the 50% surtax, steel importers must obtain a valid shipment-specific permit and ensure that:
Steel import permits must be requested at least 15 days before the expected date of entry. If the five-day pre-entry validity overlaps with a previous quota period, the permit will only take effect on the first day of the new period.
An extension may be requested only if the shipment is delayed due to exceptional and unforeseen circumstances, and the request must be submitted before the permit expires, with substantiating documentation.
Permits that are unused, expired, or not fully utilized must be cancelled, and a new application must be submitted reflecting the actual quantity imported.
Shipment-specific permits may also be issued retroactively for goods already accounted for with CBSA.
In this case, importers may need to provide supporting documentation, such as the Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading, and the CAD, upon request by Global Affairs Canada.
At Cole International, we provide customs and compliance consulting and customs brokerage services to help you navigate changing regulations and streamline the importing of goods into Canada.
Our team can help you avoid unnecessary surtax and delays by ensuring your permit applications are accurate, your quotas are tracked, and your documentation is complete and compliant.
Please reach out to one of our trade professionals for support in managing your steel import permits or to review how this validity update affects your shipments.