Canada · 6 d ago
Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Ottawa has yet to say how or when it will ban imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank
On Sep 8, Canada and several European countries pledged to ban goods made in settlements in the occupied West Bank. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said the ban would come “in the coming months.”
What we know
- Canada pledged a ban on Sep 8
- Anand said it would come in months
Not yet
- How the ban will work
- When it will take effect
- How much of Canada's imports are affected
The pledge is made, but the details are not.
A group of MPs and senators urged quick action in an Oct 9 letter. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs says the ban punishes one party and that Canada should use its leverage to press for Palestinian reforms.
And us?
Canada's trade agreement with Israel, in force since 1997, defines Israel as including the occupied territories. In August, Ottawa warned Canadian businesses that dealing with settlements could bring legal and financial risks.
