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ARTICLE · 13 JUNE 2025

Canadian Export Controls

Millar Kreklewetz
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Canada, like many of its trading partners has a significant framework of export sanctions, targeting the controlled export of goods and technology to sensitive destinations, governments, and foreign actors worldwide.

CanadaInternational Law
Robert Kreklewetz
Robert Kreklewetz
David West
David West

Canada, like many of its trading partners has a significant framework of export sanctions, targeting the controlled export of goods and technology to sensitive destinations, governments, and foreign actors worldwide. Yet, for the duration of my International Law practice to date — some 35+ years — the unspoken joke has been that Canada's enforcement actions were almost nonexistent, at least relative to the situation in the US. (Indeed, one needs to look far and wide for caselaw regarding Canadian export controls enforcement).

With the recent trade wars and President Trump's desire to strengthen borders, this appears to have changed. We review a recent Canadian arrest for sanctions evasion below, which may be a harbinger of greater action to come despite the rarity of such cases.

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