Canada: carrier liability conventions for cargo
Which international cargo liability regimes Canada is bound by, from the treaty depositaries' records.
Summary
- Ocean (shipments from Canada): Hague-Visby Rules.
- Air: Montreal Convention 1999 (26 SDR/kg) on routes to other MC99 parties.
- Road: not a CMR party; national law/contract governs.
- Rail: not an OTIF Member State.
Ocean
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hague Rules 1924 | Not a party | Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (depositary): States bound by the 1924 Bills of Lading Convention | |
| Visby Protocol 1968 | Signed, not ratified | 1968 (date not stated) Listed as signatory of the 1968 Visby Protocol; not listed as having ratified. | Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (depositary): States bound by the 1968 Visby Protocol (last modified 28 May 2021) |
| SDR Protocol 1979 | Not a party | Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (depositary): States bound by the 1979 SDR Protocol | |
| Hamburg Rules 1978 | Not a party | UN Treaty Collection, Hamburg Rules (XI-D-3) |
National law: The Hague-Visby Rules have the force of law in Canada under the Marine Liability Act, s.43 and Schedule 3. Canada, Marine Liability Act, s.43 and Schedule 3
Air
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Convention 1999 | Party | 19 Nov 2002 Entry into force 4 Nov 2003. | ICAO, Current list of parties to the Montreal Convention 1999 |
| Warsaw Convention 1929 | Party | 10 Jun 1947 (adherence) | ICAO, Parties to the Warsaw Convention 1929 and The Hague Protocol 1955 |
| The Hague Protocol 1955 | Party | 18 Apr 1964 | ICAO, Parties to the Warsaw Convention 1929 and The Hague Protocol 1955 |
| Montreal Additional Protocol No. 4 | To confirm | MAP4 status not retrieved from ICAO during this build. |
Road
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMR 1956 | Not a party | UN Treaty Collection, CMR (XI-B-11) |
Rail
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| COTIF 1999 / CIM | Not a party | Not listed among OTIF Member States. | OTIF, Member States |
Notes
- Canada–US truck moves: the US portion is subject to the Carmack Amendment; Canadian provincial rules on carrier liability vary (to confirm).
FAQ
Is Canada a party to the Hague-Visby Rules?
Canada is not listed as a treaty party, but The Hague-Visby Rules have the force of law in Canada under the Marine Liability Act, s.43 and Schedule 3.
Which air cargo liability limit applies to flights from Canada?
Canada is a party to the Montreal Convention 1999 (ratification/accession 19 Nov 2002). Between MC99 parties the cargo limit is 26 SDR per kg from 28 December 2024.
Does CMR apply to trucking from Canada?
Canada is not listed as a CMR party. CMR can still apply to a road leg if the other country is a party, since CMR applies when either the place of taking over or delivery is in a contracting country.
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Prototype: this form is not connected yet and stores nothing.Status checked against depositary records on 2026-10-16. "Not a party" means not listed by the depositary. General information only, not legal or insurance advice. Limits depend on the contract, the documents issued, declared values, national law and the facts of each case. Check the primary sources and consult a qualified professional before relying on any figure.