- The Notice distinguishes primary aluminum, produced from alumina through the Hall-Héroult electrolytic process, from secondary aluminum, produced by remelting recycled aluminum scrap.
Exceptions
The new smelt/cast reporting requirement generally does not apply when:
- The GIP-covered goods have a total value for duty of $5,000 or less, or
- The importer is a Customs Self-Assessment (CSA) importer and uses the applicable CSA release option.
These exceptions only apply to the new reporting requirement. They do not eliminate other GIP 83 requirements.
What aluminum products are affected?
GIP 83 covers a range of aluminum products, including:
- Unwrought aluminum
- Bars, rods and profiles
- Wire
- Plates, sheets and strips
- Foil
- Tubes and pipes
- Pipe fittings
- Certain castings and forgings
Whether a particular product is covered ultimately depends on its HS classification.
Recordkeeping
Importers must keep supporting records for six years after the year of importation.
These records need to support information such as:
- Quantity and value
- HS classification and country of origin
- Whether the product contains primary or secondary aluminum
- CLS and C2S information, if applicable
- Country of most recent cast
If Global Affairs Canada requests these records, importers generally have 10 days to provide them.
What does this mean
The biggest issue is getting accurate information from suppliers.
Before October 1, 2026, importers should make sure that:
- Suppliers can provide CLS, C2S and CRC information.
- That information reaches the customs broker or person preparing the SWI IID.
- Supporting documents are retained in case Global Affairs Canada asks for evidence.
- Import procedures identify applicable shipments as being imported under GIP 83.
Bottom line
Effective October 1, 2026, importers of aluminum covered by GIP 83 will generally need to know and report where the aluminum was smelted and most recently cast, and keep records supporting that information.
Importers must update supplier-data collection and customs declaration processes before October 1 so the required information is available when each shipment arrives and releases are not impacted.
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