The Tribunal may initiate a global safeguard inquiry following a written complaint by a domestic producer of like or directly competitive goods or a trade union whose members are engaged in the Canadian production of like or directly competitive goods. The Government may also order the Tribunal to conduct such an inquiry. If the Tribunal determines that increased imports of goods are causing or are threatening to cause serious injury to domestic producers of like or directly competitive goods, the Government may apply safeguard measures to assist those domestic producers.

If the Tribunal determines, in a global safeguard inquiry, that increased imports of goods are causing or are threatening to cause serious injury, it must also make certain separate determinations with respect to goods being imported from a country with which Canada has entered into a bilateral free trade agreement. In principle, if certain conditions are met, the Government must exclude imports from that country from any global safeguard measures that it applies.

The Tribunal also conducts midterm reviews to determine if safeguard measures should remain in effect, be repealed or be amended. Following a request by a domestic producer of like or directly competitive goods, or by a trade union whose members are engaged in the Canadian production of like or directly competitive goods, the Tribunal may also conduct extension inquiries to determine if safeguard measures due to expire are still necessary.

Source: Canada Border Services Agency