Imports of Russian steel and aluminum are now banned in Canada as part of the sanctions regime – National

Canada bans the import of Russian steel and aluminum as part of its sanctions regime, as Foreign Minister Melanie Joly raises the possibility of regime change in Moscow.

Joly did so at a news conference on Friday where she discussed the importance of maintaining a diplomatic presence in Moscow.

“We can see how much we’re isolating the Russian regime right now _ because we need to do that economically, politically and diplomatically _ and what the effects are also on society, and how much we see potential regime change in Russia,” she said.

The liberals have pushed for regime change in Iran, but Joly has not previously said the same about Russia. She said regime change is really the point of sanctions and the pursuit of accountability for alleged war crimes.

“The goal is definitely to do that, is to weaken Russia’s ability to launch very severe attacks against Ukraine. We also want to make sure that Putin and his enablers are held accountable,” she said.

“I always make a distinction between the regime and the people of a given country, which is fundamental.”

Also on Friday, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced a ban on steel and aluminum imports, which she said will help undermine Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

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Figures from the Department of Industry show that Canada imported $208 million in steel products from Russia in 2021 and $79 million last year.

Canada also imported $44 million in aluminum from Russia in 2021 and another $16 million last year.

Russia’s trade with Canada plummeted in the first 10 months after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago, with exports down 78 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Ottawa’s economic measures already block exports of everything from forklifts to barber chairs, unless Canadian companies convince the Liberal cabinet to issue exemptions.

© 2023 The Canadian Press