On June 19, 2026, the Government of Canada implemented a temporary 10 percent Surtax on imports of certain canned vegetables into Canada for a period of up to 200 days. The Surtax applies to subject goods that originate in countries other than the United States, Mexico, Chile, or Israel.
This surtax is being implemented as a safeguard measure to address the injury to domestic producers caused by import increases of certain canned vegetable goods while the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) conducts an inquiry into whether final safeguard measures are warranted.
Canned vegetable goods subject to the Surtax are the following:
corn; peas; green beans; wax beans; mixes of peas and carrots; mixed vegetables; white, black, red and pinto beans; and chickpeas.
Customs Notice 26-14 “Certain Canned Vegetable Goods Surtax Order” complete with applicable HS tariff classification may be found here.
Exceptions to safeguard
- The surtax will not apply to canned vegetable goods that are in transit to Canada on the day on which the surtax comes into force. This includes goods that were in transit before the surtax comes into force. For the purpose of this Customs Notice, ‘in transit to Canada’ refers to goods bound for but not yet arrived in Canada, and under the control of a carrier. Importers must have proof in their possession that such goods were in transit to Canada in order to demonstrate that the surtax is not applicable. Such proof may include the following documentation: shipping documents (for example, a bill of lading), report of entry documents, and cargo control documents. Such proof may be requested at any time by a CBSA officer.
- The surtax does not apply to goods that originate in the United States, Mexico, Chile, or Israel or another Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) beneficiary.
- The surtax does not apply to goods that originate in a developing country or territory set out in Schedule 2 to the Order (see Appendix B to this Customs Notice).
- Casual goods as defined in section 2 of the Persons Authorized to Account for Casual Goods Regulations(SOR/95-418) are not subject to the surtax.
- Canned vegetable goods that are classified under a tariff classification number of Chapter 98 of the Schedule to Canada’s Customs Tariff, even if the goods are otherwise classifiable under a tariff classification number set out in Schedule 1 to the Certain Canned Vegetable Goods Surtax Order, are not subject to the safeguard.
- Goods that are fresh, dried or frozen vegetables are not subject to the surtax.
- Goods that are ready-to-eat meals or entrées in which the vegetables are combined with grains, meats, pastas or sauces, such that the vegetables are not the primary component of those meals or entrées are not subject to the surtax.
- Goods that consist of vegetables substantially altered into purées, powders, juices, spreads, dips or pastes are not subject to the surtax.
For more information, contact Brian Rowe, Director – Customs Compliance & Regulatory Affairs.
