Canada to Require Smelt and Cast Country Reporting for Aluminum Imports Beginning October 1, 2026

Importers of aluminum products into Canada should prepare for new country-of-smelt and country-of-cast reporting requirements under General Import Permit No. 83 — Aluminum Products (GIP 83).

Effective October 1, 2026, importers will be required to submit specified production-origin information to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) through the Single Window Initiative Integrated Import Declaration (SWI IID). Importers may begin submitting the information voluntarily before the effective date.

New Information Requirements

For aluminum products covered by GIP 83, importers will be required to report the following information at the time of importation:

• Country of Largest Smelt (CLS): Required for goods containing primary aluminum.
• Country of Second-Largest Smelt (C2S): Required, if applicable, for goods containing primary aluminum.
• Country of Most Recent Cast (CRC): Required for all goods covered by GIP 83.

The requirements will apply to all aluminum Harmonized System classifications identified in Global Affairs Canada’s SWI IID Regulated Commodities Data Element Matching Criteria Table.

The applicable GIP remains the authorization for importing eligible aluminum products included on Canada’s Import Control List without obtaining a transaction-specific import permit, provided all permit terms and conditions are met.

Effective Date and Voluntary Reporting Period

The amended reporting requirements are scheduled to enter into force on October 1, 2026.

Until that date, submission of CLS, C2S and CRC information through the SWI IID is optional. Importers may use this period to test their reporting processes, confirm data availability with suppliers and address system or data-quality issues before reporting becomes mandatory.

CBSA has already updated the SWI IID to accommodate the new data elements. Importers and customs brokers were notified of the related system changes through a Technical Commercial Client Unit bulletin issued on May 29, 2026.

Exemptions

The new reporting requirements will not apply:

• To a Customs Self-Assessment, or CSA, importer, as defined in the Accounting for Imported Goods and Payment of Duties Regulations, for goods released under paragraph 32(2)(b) of the Customs Act; or
• Where the total value for duty of the imported goods is CAD $5,000 or less.

Importers should assess the application of these exemptions on a shipment-by-shipment basis and retain documentation supporting the exemption claimed.

Recommended Actions for Importers

Companies importing aluminum products into Canada should begin preparing now by:

1. Identifying products and tariff classifications covered by GIP 83.
2. Determining which imported goods contain primary aluminum.
3. Requesting CLS, C2S and CRC information from manufacturers, mills and suppliers.
4. Establishing procedures to validate and retain the reported production-origin information.
5. Confirming that customs brokers, software providers and internal trade-compliance systems can transmit the new data through SWI IID.
6. Testing voluntary reporting before October 1, 2026.
7. Reviewing contracts and supplier data requirements to ensure the necessary information is available before goods are shipped.

Importers should not assume that the country of export or country of origin is the same as the country of smelt or country of most recent cast. These are distinct data elements and may require information from upstream producers or manufacturers. If you require further information, please contact your Buckland representative.

Source:
Customs Notice 26-15: Amendments to the General Import Permit No. 83 — Aluminum products