On March 1, 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs announced further import restrictions on diamonds and diamond-jewelry-related products from Russia. The amendments to the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (the “Regulations”) prohibit any person in Canada and any Canadian outside of Canada from purchasing, importing, or acquiring certain diamonds mined or produced in Russia that are exported, processed and/or polished in a third country. The Regulations entered into force on February 29, 2024. The amendments…

On February 20, 2024, Canada enacted new sanctions regulations under the Special Economic Measures Act in response to gross and systematic human rights violations and corruption in Guatemala. The Special Economic Measures (Guatemala) Regulations (the “Regulations”) designate four individuals and entered into force on February 16, 2024. The individuals listed in the Schedule to the Regulations are public officials that are alleged to have committed gross human rights violations, engaged in activities that directly or…

Baker McKenzie’s Canadian international trade and customs team is publishing a series of articles reviewing 2023 trade and customs compliance developments and looking ahead to 2024’s burgeoning issues. This article focuses on Canada’s economic sanctions regime. Canada’s sanctions regime underwent significant legislative amendments in 2023, which expanded the Government’s authority to prohibit certain dealings; meanwhile the Government has yet to publish guidance on its novel legislative provisions, sanctions permit approvals are rare, and there remain…