CanadaB次元官网网址檚 trade with Russia plummeted in the first 10 months after MoscowB次元官网网址檚 invasion of Ukraine a year ago, with OttawaB次元官网网址檚 economic measures barring the export of everything from forklifts to barbersB次元官网网址� chairs.

Yet certain sectors have emerged largely unscathed by the restrictions, as businesses grapple with a constantly expanding list of restrictions and sanctions.

Industry Canada data show that between March and December 2022, the value of total imports from Russia plunged 78 per cent to $414 million, from $1.9 billion during the same 10-month period in 2021.

By November and December, Canadian imports from Russia had fallen 98 per cent compared to the year before. Over both months, the total value of imports from Russia was $9 million, compared to $433 million in the last two months of 2021.

The value of exports from Canada to Russia between March and December fell 91 per cent, dropping to $52 million in 2022 from $584 million in 2021.

B次元官网网址淭he Canadian footprint in Russia has collapsed,B次元官网网址� said William Pellerin, an Ottawa-based trade lawyer with the firm McMillan LLP.

Federal data show Canada is still importing a significant amount of pneumatic tires, aviation turbine fuel and plywood. But only a handful of the top 25 products imported from Russia in both 2021 and 2022 saw an increase.

That includes nickel ores, which Canada tends to process for export, as well as ammonium nitrate, mostly used in fertilizer. The imports of both more than doubled in value between the two years, though Canada didnB次元官网网址檛 import either product after June 2022.

Pellerin said the fertilizer data reflect the annual cycle of farmers making purchases ahead of the spring sowing season. The purchases related to this yearB次元官网网址檚 season will show up in later data, he said.

Ottawa imposed a 35 per cent tariff on Russian and Belarusian products in March, which it expects will yield $115 million in revenue that Canada plans to transfer to Ukraine.

The Liberals have said they accept that tariffs and restrictions have an impact on CanadaB次元官网网址檚 economy, but they argue itB次元官网网址檚 worth taking a stance in support of international rules.

Canada is the only G7 country to include nitrogen fertilizer in its tariff regime, to the ire of eastern Canadian growers, who say it unfairly drives up the cost of products at a time of high inflation.

About half a dozen products saw an increase in exports in 2022 versus 2021, but many of them saw most or all of that occur in January and February, before Canada imposed sanctions. For example, Canada exported $85 million in aircraft over 15,000 kg to Russia last year, all of it in February 2022.

As part of the firmB次元官网网址檚 complex regulatory solutions group, Pellerin said his clients include Canadian and international firms navigating sanctions on Russia, but not Russian themselves.

He said the drop in Canadian exports to Russia partially stem from a list of weapons-related goods that Ottawa banned for export in May, many of which donB次元官网网址檛 consist of actual weaponry.

The list includes motorcycles and surgical or veterinary furniture including B次元官网网址渄entistsB次元官网网址� chairsB次元官网网址� as well as B次元官网网址渂arbersB次元官网网址� chairs and similar chairs, having rotating as well as both reclining and elevating movements.B次元官网网址�

The list also includes cranes, X-ray equipment and forklift trucks, because such goods might be appropriated for military use. Canadian companies can only export these items if they secure a waiver.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e displacing Canadian exports, and theyB次元官网网址檙e being replaced by Chinese supply,B次元官网网址� Pellerin argued.

He noted that trade in services have also taken a major hit, in particular for companies that help with mining operations in Canada and Russia, given their similar terrain.

Pellerin has also come across companies based in Dubai or Europe that have significant exchanges with Russians, and others in which Russian oligarchs have partial control or ownership.

B次元官网网址淣ot a week that goes by that we donB次元官网网址檛 kick up a rock and there is a sanctioned oligarch in some proposed business dealing that we can no longer do,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淲hat the average Canadian does not see is all the business that doesnB次元官网网址檛 get done with Russian parties as a result of Canadian sanctions B次元官网网址� and frankly all the risk that is being borne by international businesses as a result.B次元官网网址�

For example, Canadian companies might suddenly discover that theyB次元官网网址檝e been doing business for years with a firm that has minority Russian ownership, making it unclear whether they need a waiver to continue.

Canadian companies apply for these exemptions by making the case that the economic activity would not violate the intent of sanctions, and a cabinet minister signs off on the waivers.

Pellerin argues this makes the process B次元官网网址渕ore political than is truly independent or legalB次元官网网址� and notes there is very limited detail in the guidance Global Affairs Canada posts online, compared to that provided by allied countries.

The department gave no indication it would improve the level of detail it provides, with spokesman Grantly Franklin saying in an email that the waivers B次元官网网址渁re evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we have a rigorous due diligence process in place.B次元官网网址�

Pellerin said the sanctions team is B次元官网网址渄oing everything that they can on a shoestring operation,B次元官网网址� with some exemptions taking months to process.

In the past year, Canada has sanctioned more than 1,600 people in relation with RussiaB次元官网网址檚 war in Ukraine. Yet the government says it cannot determine how many more of its employees have been assigned to work on sanctions and exemptions.

B次元官网网址淗undreds of Global Affairs Canada employees may be contributing to the sanctions effort at any given time. For these reasons, it is not possible to specify the exact number of people working on sanctions at any given time,B次元官网网址� Franklin wrote.

In 2021, Russia stood as CanadaB次元官网网址檚 28th most valuable trading partner, falling last year all the way to 53rd place.

RussiaB次元官网网址檚 ambassador in Ottawa, Oleg Stepanov, lamented the drop in trade in an interview this month with state news agency RIA Novosti.

B次元官网网址淥ttawaB次元官网网址檚 unfriendly actions have significantly affected the dynamics of bilateral trade,B次元官网网址� he said in a Russian-language interview.

B次元官网网址淲e predict that the negative trend will continue this year.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擠ylan Robertson and Mia Rabson, The Canadian Press