Canada moves to tighten forced‑labour import bans amid US tariff threat

The Canadian government is tabled a bill that would overhaul the country’s rules on imports made with forced labour. The legislation, presented by parliamentary secretary Rob Oliphant while Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is in Europe, would create a list of products and regions linked to forced‑labour and require importers to prove their goods are not produced through slavery. The move is a response to the Trump administration’s consideration of additional tariffs on Canada and other nations for alleged non‑tariff barriers.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada already has “a very strong framework and responsibilities” but has been “less effective in fully enforcing those,” citing legal structure and resource constraints. He also announced the elimination of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, a watchdog introduced under the previous Liberal government, after acknowledging its limited effectiveness. Critics argue that Canada has intercepted only 50 shipments suspected of forced labour since 2020, turning away just two, highlighting the need for stronger enforcement.

The bill is expected to undergo study and consultation before the House of Commons votes on it next week.