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U.S. congressman introduces bill targeting Online Streaming Act
Rep. Lloyd Smucker’s bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate Canada’s Online Streaming Act for potential discrimination against American streaming firms under trade laws.
- March 20, 2026 — Republican Congressman Lloyd Smucker introduced the Protecting American Streaming and Innovation Act, directing the Office of the United States Trade Representative to launch a Section 301 probe into Canada’s Online Streaming Act.
- The Online Streaming Act, passed in 2023, empowers the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to require major platforms such as Netflix and Amazon to contribute five per cent of their Canadian revenue, but implementation remains pending amid court challenges.
- U.S. industry groups including the Motion Picture Association argued the act discriminates against American platforms and burdens U.S. companies, while Canadian cultural groups say it levels the playing field and supports local stories.
- If the United States Trade Representative finds discrimination, it must take retaliatory action including tariffs or modifying CUSMA concessions, while the Canadian Association of Broadcasters warns shelving the Online Streaming Act would harm cultural sectors.
- The Trump administration has flagged the law as a trade irritant and launched Section 301 investigations this month, following last year’s digital services tax rescission by Canada.
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31 Articles
31 Articles
This legislation, which is challenged in court, requires large foreign platforms to contribute to the financing of the production of Canadian content.
·Montreal, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources31
Leaning Left22Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution85% Left
Bias Distribution
- 85% of the sources lean Left
85% Left
L 85%
15%
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