Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand has announced that the Government of Canada has tabled new legislation titled An Act respecting the prohibition of the importation of goods produced by forced labour. If passed by Parliament, the statute will systematically upgrade Canada’s existing border enforcement framework to prevent commodities manufactured via forced labour from entering the domestic market.
The proposed legislation establishes updated administrative procedures to support enforcement agencies, including structured information-sharing protocols among federal partners and enhanced legal mechanisms to assess and act upon supply-chain evidence. The measures aim to create a more level playing field for compliant domestic businesses while increasing transparency for international trading partners.
The tabling of the bill follows a commitment made earlier this month by Prime Minister Mark Carney to strengthen the country’s trade borders against human rights violations.
Canada previously implemented a baseline import ban in July 2020 under the Customs Tariff, which prohibited the entry of goods produced wholly or in part by forced labour. That initial regulatory measure was enacted to satisfy Canada’s international trade commitments under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). The new Act expands upon that framework, shifting from a tariff-based restriction to a dedicated statutory system designed to improve border interception rates and align Canadian supply-chain compliance more closely with evolving international oversight standards.
Anita Anand said, “Canada will not tolerate the presence of goods produced through forced labour in our markets. This legislation strengthens our commitment to human rights and fair, transparent trade by giving us stronger tools to stop these goods at the border and protect the integrity of our supply chains. It also supports vulnerable workers and aligns Canada with global efforts to eliminate forced labour from international trade.”
