Canada Tables Forced Labor Bill
Analysis based on 8 articles · First reported Jun 12, 2026 · Last updated Jun 12, 2026
The new Canadian legislation, Bill C-35, aims to address concerns from the United States regarding forced labor imports, potentially averting threatened tariffs from the Donald Trump administration. This could positively impact trade relations between Canada and the United States, reducing uncertainty for businesses involved in cross-border trade. The elimination of the Canada — Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, however, might raise concerns among human rights advocates and some investors about Canada's commitment to corporate accountability abroad.
Canada has tabled Bill C-35, new legislation aimed at strengthening its enforcement against imports made with forced labor. This move comes in response to threats of tariffs from the United States, under the Donald Trump administration, which has criticized Canada's lax enforcement of existing forced labor bans. The bill, tabled by Rob Oliphant, will create a public list of products and regions linked to forced labor and shift the burden of proof to importers. Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged Canada's previous ineffectiveness in enforcing these rules and also announced the elimination of the Canada — Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, a watchdog position, citing its ineffectiveness. The legislation seeks to align Canada with standards being developed by the European Union and practices in Mexico, aiming to prevent the dumping of cheaper goods produced through forced labor.
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