U.S. Chamber Strongly Condemns Canada's Online Streaming Act

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce firmly opposes the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) latest action implementing Canada's Online Streaming Act, including CRTC Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2026-96 (released May 21, 2026). The Act would require a small group of targeted U.S. streaming services to devote 15% of their Canadian revenues to domestic programming expenditures and prominently feature Canadian content across their platforms' landing pages, carousels, and recommendation systems.

"The Online Streaming Act and related policy direction call for flexible regulation accounting for the unique business models of global streaming services," said Neil Herrington, Senior Vice President for the U.S. Chamber's Americas Department. "The CRTC's decision moves in the opposite direction by imposing rigid, one-size-fits-all obligations that appear designed to single out U.S.-headquartered services and give the Canadian government editorial control over core business functions."

"These measures also raise serious concerns about consistency with Canada's international trade obligations, including under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), particularly commitments related to fair and non-discriminatory treatment, investor protections, and restrictions on certain performance requirements.

"The U.S. Chamber urges the Government of Canada and the CRTC to reverse course and adopt a more evenhanded and technology-neutral framework-one supporting Canadian cultural objectives without creating discriminatory barriers that harm innovation, cross-border trade, and the Canada-U.S. economic relationship."