Canada Global Affairs Sanctions

Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations – Comprehensive Prohibitions

The Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, enacted under SEMA, impose comprehensive sanctions including asset freezes on designated persons, export and import restrictions, and financial prohibitions. The regulations prohibit Canadians and persons in Canada from dealing in property of designated persons, providing financial services, exporting goods to Russia for offshore oil/shale/arctic exploration, importing Russian petroleum products and coal, and shipping luxury goods. Additional prohibitions cover arms exports, jet fuel, chemicals, diamonds, maritime transport services for Russian crude oil, and aviation insurance and reinsurance services. Three regulatory amendments were registered in 2025-2026, most recently on March 25, 2026.

Canada Sanctions Russia-Occupied Ukraine Regions Under Special Economic Measures Act

Canada maintains targeted sanctions against Russia-occupied regions of Ukraine (Crimea, Donetsk People's Republic, Luhansk People's Republic, Kherson oblast, and Zaporizhzhia oblast) under the Special Economic Measures Act. The Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations impose asset freezes and dealings prohibitions on designated persons, and prohibit Canadians from investing in, trading with, or providing services to these occupied regions. A new Special Economic Measures Permit Authorization Order came into force on February 26, 2025, consolidating permit authority across all SEMA regulations. The Permit Authorization Order repeals all prior specific Permit Authorization Orders and authorizes the Minister of Foreign Affairs to issue individual and general permits in exceptional cases.

Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations: Prohibitions, Permits, and Compliance Requirements

The Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations, enacted under the Special Economic Measures Act, impose comprehensive sanctions including asset freezes on designated persons listed in Schedule 1, prohibitions on dealing in property owned or controlled by listed parties, and restrictions on transferable securities, debt financing exceeding 90 days' maturity, insurance and reinsurance, petroleum products, and potassium chloride goods exported from Belarus. The Regulations also prohibit the export of restricted goods and technologies, luxury goods, and items that could be used for weapons manufacturing to Belarus, as well as the import of luxury goods from Belarus.