Key Developments In Canada's Economic Sanctions And Export Controls During 2017 & What To Expect In 2018

Over the past year, there have been major changes to Canada's export controls and economic sanctions regimes that will have a significant impact on companies doing business abroad during 2018 and beyond. Firms will need to familiarize themselves with these changes and, if they have not already, ensure they are incorporated into their compliance polices and controls. More than ever before, companies should carefully track and monitor the parties they have direct and indirect dealings with and where their products and technology end up.

This article begins with a summary of parliamentary recommendations to improve Canada's sanctions regime, and then launches into reforms that have already taken shape, such as the creation of a publicly-accessible sanctions database and the adoption of a new Magnitsky Law. Second, it discusses recent updates to Canada's export controls and economic sanctions laws. Third, we explore Canada's preparations to join the Arms Trade Treaty