A new Republican-sponsored bill in the U.S. Congress takes aim at Canada's attempts to force foreign streaming companies such as Netflix and Disney+ to pay into Canadian funds for domestic content production.

The proposed legislation could pave the way for the United States to impose new tariffs on Canadian products.

Called the Protecting American Streaming and Innovation Act, the bill was introduced on Thursday in the House of Representatives by Pennsylvania Republican Lloyd Smucker. It's designed "to counter Canada's digital trade barriers targeting American streaming companies and content producers," he said in a news release.

"Canada’s unfair policies stack the deck against U.S. companies, creators, and workers," Smucker said. CBC News has requested an interview with the congressman.

The bill is aimed at Canada's Online Streaming Act, which has been a trade irritant for the U.S. since it became law in 2023.