U.S. Import Ban on Canadian Whey and Dairy Ingredients Takes Effect

New U.S. restrictions on selected Canadian goods, including dairy ingredients and whey products, took effect on September 29, adding another barrier to trade across the border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection began excluding the covered products from entry at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time, and shipments presented after that deadline can be rejected. The measures also cover certain molasses products and form part of a wider set of import bans that includes Canadian alcohol and motorcycles. The bans were announced earlier in September under Section 338 of the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930, so September 29 marked their implementation rather than a new policy announcement.

Ontario responded by confirming that businesses hit by the bans can access the Protect Ontario Financing Program and the Ontario Together Trade Fund. The financing program offers loans that can cover payroll, lease payments and utilities. The change matters for Canadian dairy processors and exporters that depend on the U.S. market, and for agricultural supply chains that operate on both sides of the border.