The steel derivative goods surtax is a 25% charge on imported steel-based products, in force since December 26, 2025. It was made under the Steel Derivative Goods Surtax Order (SOR/2025-267) and is administered by the Canada Border Services Agency under Customs Notice 25-33.
Two things make this surtax different from the earlier steel and aluminum measures. First, it applies to goods from every country of origin, not just the United States. Second, it covers finished and semi-finished products made of steel, not just raw steel. If you import fasteners, wire, fencing, racking, hardware, or metal furniture, you are very likely paying it on every shipment.
What products does it cover?
The order covers twelve broad product groups, including screws, bolts, nuts and washers; nails and staples; wire rope, stranded wire and cable; chain-link and welded-mesh fencing and gabions; chain; springs; fabricated structural steel; pallet racking and shelving structures; builders' and door hardware; metal-frame seating and office furniture; prefabricated steel buildings; and steel-core electrical cable (ACSR). The full plain-language list, with examples, is on our covered products page. Whether a specific product is covered comes down to its tariff classification on your customs entries, not how it is described in your catalogue.
How it shows up on your statement
The surtax is charged on the Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD) filed for each shipment and lands on your monthly CBSA statement of account. It is not labelled in a way that stands out. Most owners see one line of customs charges and assume it is ordinary duty. At 25% of the value of covered goods, it is usually the largest single border cost on the invoice.
Can you get any of it back?
Often, yes. The government created refund and exemption mechanisms alongside the surtax. The main one for derivative goods is the Steel Derivative Goods Surtax Remission Order (SOR/2026-34), explained in Customs Notice 26-07. CBSA's duties relief and drawback programs and adjustments to past entries can also return surtax that should not have been paid. The catch: refund claims must be made within two years of each importation. Surtax you paid on a shipment is not recoverable forever; the clock runs entry by entry.
Our refund guide walks through each mechanism in plain English.
Every regulation named on this page links to its official Government of Canada page. Verify everything; take nothing on faith, including from us.
Common questions
Is the steel derivative surtax a tariff?
In everyday language, yes. Technically Canada imposes it as a surtax under the Customs Tariff, separate from ordinary duty. On your statement it behaves like a tariff: 25% added to the value of covered goods at the border.
Does it only apply to goods from the United States?
No. Since December 26, 2025, it applies to covered products from every country of origin. A separate, earlier order applies 25% to US-origin steel and aluminum specifically, since March 2025.