Canada has introduced legislation that would make it easier to identify and stop products linked to forced labor from entering the country. The proposed law would create a public list of high-risk products and regions. This require importers to demonstrate that goods from those areas were not made with forced labor.

While advocates welcome the move, many say stronger enforcement and broader corporate accountability measures are still needed to address longstanding gaps in Canada’s response to forced labor.

New bill shifts responsibility to importers

The Canadian government tabled Bill C-35 on Friday, proposing a new approach to preventing products linked to forced labor from entering the country.

According to parliamentary secretary Rob Oliphant, the legislation would establish a public list of products associated with forced labor concerns in specific regions. Importers bringing in those goods would be required to prove they were not produced using forced labor.

The CBC reports:

“We do not want dumping of cheaper materials, cheaper goods, into Canada that are produced with forced labour,” Oliphant said.

The proposed changes would also provide border officials with clearer guidance on which products warrant closer inspection. Currently, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) relies largely on risk assessments and random inspections when screening imports.

Oliphant said the legislation would “shift the burden” onto importers to demonstrate that products from identified regions were not made with forced labor.

He also insists that, “This will be a made-in-Canada solution to an international problem” that is not a response to the new threats of tariffs from the US. US tariffs will target countries viewed as having weak policies on forced labor products and Canada is on that list.

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