Canada: International Law

On May 6, 2026, the Act to implement the Protocol on the Accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (Act) received royal assent, ratifying the accession of the United Kingdom to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The Act is expected to enter into force by order of the Governor in Council shortly.

The Labour Appeal Court has reaffirmed that a restraint of trade agreement may remain enforceable even after an employee has been dismissed for misconduct, provided the dismissal was not effected fraudulently or in bad faith. The Court overturned a Labour Court decision that had refused to enforce a restraint on the basis that the employee had been dismissed, confirming that dismissal alone does not disentitle an employer from enforcing post-termination restraints.

On April 21, 2026, the Government of Canada directed the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (the CITT or Tribunal) to initiate a global safeguard inquiry into imports of certain finished wood products (Safeguard Inquiry No. GC-2026-001).