Canada’s federal government in Ottawa has announced that it is banning imports of all steel and aluminum products from Russia as it expands its sanctions on the regime of President Vladimir Putin.
Canada imported $208 million of steel products from Russia in 2021 and $79 million in 2022 when sanctions on the Russian government began.
Canada had imported $44 million of aluminum from Russia in 2021, and $16 million in 2022.
Russia's total trade with Canada plummeted throughout last year after that country invaded neighbouring Ukraine, with a nearly 80% drop in Canadian exports.
Over the past year, Canada’s federal government has banned the export of nearly all products to Russia unless businesses receive an exemption from officials in Ottawa.
Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the hope is that a complete ban on Russian aluminum and steel imports will further undermine Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
