Canada set to lift Belarus sanctions

Canada will initiate the regulatory process to lift sanctions against Belarus that have been in place since December 14, 2006, according to the statement by Global Affairs Canada. 

This announcement is consistent with actions taken by the United States and the European Union since October 2015 (see links below). It also reflects Canada’s acknowledgment that the Government of Belarus has made progress in key areas in recent months, including the release of political prisoners and conducting a presidential election in October 2015, which demonstrated greater adherence to international norms and was not marked by the levels of violence and intimidation seen in past elections. Canada also recognizes the constructive role played by Belarus in facilitating negotiations toward a ceasefire and peace agreement in Ukraine—the Minsk agreements—in September 2014 and February 2015, says the statement by Canadian foreign ministry.

As an interim measure while the regulatory process to remove Belarus from the ACL moves forward, Global Affairs Canada will normally issue export permits for the export to Belarus of goods and technology that are not specifically listed in the Export Control List. This practice will take effect immediately.