Steel import permit update — Serial No. 1163 — what changed and what it means for your next shipment

What changed in Serial No. 1163

Global Affairs Canada published Serial No. 1163 on June 13, replacing Serial No. 1160 from December. If you’re importing steel products under Item 82 of the Import Permit List, this is the active notice now.

Most of the structure is the same. You still need a shipment-specific import permit for covered steel goods, you still apply through the Trade Controls Bureau’s online portal, and the exemptions (CUSMA/CETA qualifying goods, low-value shipments under CAD 2,500, and certain end-use categories) are still in place.

The update usually means one of three things: a tweak to the covered HS code list, a procedural clarification, or a rollover of quota allocations. The notice itself will spell it out in section 3.0 (method of administration). If you’re filing CADs for flat-rolled steel, pipe, or wire products, skim the new list against your usual HS codes. If nothing moved, you’re good. If your 7208.xx code dropped off or a new 7304.xx code got added, that’s the only thing that matters.

When you need the permit

You need an import permit before CBSA will release the goods. That means:

• The importer (or broker as agent) applies for the permit online through Global Affairs’ portal
• The permit is shipment-specific, tied to HS code, origin country, quantity, and value
• You file the permit number on the CAD
• If the permit isn’t on file when the goods arrive, the container sits until you get one

The permit itself is usually approved within a day or two if the application is clean. The trap is the timing. If your supplier ships before you apply, and the goods clear faster than you expected (PARS release prior to payment, no exam), you can end up with a cleared shipment you can’t take delivery on because the permit is still pending. CBSA won’t hand over the goods without it.

CUSMA and CETA exemptions

Most steel imported from the U.S. or Mexico under CUSMA doesn’t need a permit, as long as you can prove origin. Same for CETA-qualifying goods from the EU. The exemption is automatic if you’re claiming preferential tariff treatment and the origin documentation is on file.

The catch: if your U.S.-origin steel has significant third-country content and you can’t prove it qualifies under CUSMA’s regional value content rules, it might not be exempt. In that case, you’re back to needing a permit even though the steel is coming from the U.S.

For non-CUSMA/CETA origins (China, South Korea, Turkey, India), you need the permit. No way around it. If you’re sourcing from those markets, build permit lead time into your shipping schedule. Two weeks is safe. One week is usually fine. Three days is tight.

How this shows up on the CAD

When you file a customs entry for a steel shipment that requires a permit, the permit number goes in a specific field on the CAD. If it’s missing, the CAD will error out or the release will be held pending manual review.

If you’re the importer and you’re not sure whether your goods need a permit, ask your broker to check the HS code against the Item 82 list. If you’re the broker, don’t assume the importer applied for the permit. Confirm it before you file. If the goods show up at the port without a permit on file, you’re looking at a delay that’s entirely avoidable.

What actually changed between 1160 and 1163

The full notice is on Global Affairs’ site. The update is usually administrative — a rollover of the previous notice with minor edits. If you’re importing steel regularly, read section 1.0 (coverage and duration) and section 3.0 (method of administration). Those two sections will tell you if anything material changed.

If your HS codes are still on the list and your origin exemptions are still valid, you don’t need to do anything. If a code moved or an exemption got tightened, you’ll know within two minutes of reading the notice.

For freight planning into Montreal or Toronto, this is one more data point in the release timeline. If your supplier is in China and you’re importing 7208 flat-rolled, you need the permit before the container hits the Montreal port. If your supplier is in Pennsylvania and you’re claiming CUSMA, you don’t. Either way, the notice doesn’t change your day-to-day process — it just resets the clock on which version of the policy is live.

The permit process in practice

Applying for an import permit is straightforward if you have the data. You need:

• HS code (10-digit Canada tariff code)
• Origin country
• Quantity in the unit of measure specified in the notice (usually kilograms or metric tonnes)
• Value in CAD
• Importer’s business number
• Anticipated date of import

You submit the application through the Trade Controls Bureau’s online system. Most permits are approved within one business day. If there’s a quota issue or a data mismatch, you’ll get a rejection notice with instructions on how to reapply.

Once the permit is issued, it’s valid for the specific shipment described in the application. If the shipment splits or the quantity changes, you need to amend or cancel the permit and apply for a new one. Section 6.0 of the notice explains the amendment process.

Steel permit compliance falls under trade compliance more than customs brokerage. It’s an import control administered by Global Affairs, not a tariff or valuation issue administered by CBSA. But the practical effect is the same: if you don’t have the permit, the goods don’t move.

If your steel imports are regular and you’re not sure whether the HS codes you’re using are still covered under Serial No. 1163, that’s a five-minute check against the official list. We run that check on every new steel file. Let us know if you want a second set of eyes on it.

Source: CSCB