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ARTICLE · 08 APRIL 2026

Canada Has A Jones Act!

Millar Kreklewetz
Explore more from Millar Kreklewetz

The Jones Act is a United States ("US") statute barring foreign vessels from moving goods between two points in the US. The little-known Coasting Trade Act (the "CTA"), administered by Transport Canada...

CanadaInternational Law
Robert Kreklewetz
Robert Kreklewetz
Isaac Thompson
Isaac Thompson

The Jones Act is a United States ("US") statute barring foreign vessels from moving goods between two points in the US. The little-known Coasting Trade Act (the "CTA"), administered by Transport Canada, is Canada's equivalent to the Jones Act.

In this International Trade Report, we compare the CTA with its US counterpart and explore how to navigate its complex rules.

The US Jones Act vs. Canada's Coasting Trade Act

In general terms, the US Jones Act prohibits a vessel from providing "any part of the transportation of merchandise by water, or by land and water, between points in the United States" unless it is wholly owned by US citizens, was BUILT in the US, and satisfies a few other requirements.

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