Canada on Friday banned imports of aluminium and steel from Russia in order to “cut off or limit the revenue used to fund Putin's illegal and barbaric invasion of Ukraine.”
These imports were worth nearly C$250 million (€170 million) in 2021, according to the latest government data.
The ban coincides with the entry into effect of a 200% tariff hike on Russian aluminium imports, announced last month by the US. It also follows a ban on steel imposed by the European Union last year.
Canada and its partners have already sanctioned the Russian Central Bank and capped the price of Russian oil and gas, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland recalled in a statement.
Now "we are ensuring Putin cannot pay for his war by selling aluminum and steel in Canada, in coordination with action taken by the United States today,” added Freeland, who is also Finance Minister.
The new regulations cover all aluminium products from Russia, such as raw aluminium, aluminium foil, containers and other finished products.
It also includes all primary products made from Russian steel such as iron and unalloyed steel, semi-finished products and finished products, such as tubes and pipes.
