Russian steel, aluminum imports now banned in Canada as part of sanctions regime

Russia's trade with Canada dropped in the first 10 months after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, with a 78 per cent per cent drop in exports from the same period one year prior.

Canada is banning the import of Russian steel and aluminum as part of its sanctions regime, as Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly raises the possibility of regime change in Moscow.

Joly made the remarks at a Friday press conference where she discussed the importance of maintaining a diplomatic presence in Moscow.

“We’re able to see how much we’re isolating the Russian regime right now _ because we need to do so economically, politically and diplomatically _ and what are the impacts also on society, and how much we’re seeing potential regime change in Russia,” she said.

The Liberals have pushed for regime change in Iran, but Joly has not previously said the same about Russia. She said regime change is indeed the point of sanctions and pursuing accountability for alleged war crimes.

“The goal is definitely to do that, is to weaken Russia’s ability to launch very difficult attacks against Ukraine. We want also to make sure that Putin and his enablers are held to account,” she said.

“I always make a difference between the regime and the people of a given country, which is fundamental.”

Also Friday, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced a ban on imports of steel and aluminum, which she said will help undermine Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Figures fromthe Department of Industry show that Canada imported $208 million in steel products from Russia in 2021 and $79 million last year.