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ARTICLE · 21 MARCH 2025

Canada Initiates WTO Dispute Consultations Over Tariffs

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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On March 5 and March 12, 2025, the Government of Canada issued back-to-back requests for dispute settlement consultations with the United States under the World Trade Organization (WTO).

CanadaInternational Law
Zvi Halpern-Shavim
Zvi Halpern-Shavim
Brady Gordon
Brady Gordon
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On March 5 and March 12, 2025, the Government of Canada issued back-to-back requests for dispute settlement consultations with the United States under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) concerning the imposition of U.S. tariffs.

Canada has requested consultations under the WTO DSU but separately asserts that the U.S tariffs also violate the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Consultations are the first step in the dispute settlement process under both agreements.

The dispute consultations are being advanced in conjunction with Canadian counter-tariffs of 25% imposed against a total of C$59.8-billion worth of U.S. imports, with potential tariffs on another C$125-billion in U.S. imports as soon as April 2025. See our Cross-Border Tariffs topic centre and our Timeline of Key Dates and Documents for the latest developments

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