Tougher Ban on Forced and Child Labour Imports

Summary#

This bill would tighten Canada’s ban on imports made with forced labour or child labour. It creates a “presumption” against goods from certain high‑risk places or companies and makes importers prove their goods are clean. It also tells customs officers to hold flagged goods at the border until they are satisfied the goods are not banned.

• Customs officers must detain certain imports until they confirm the goods were not made with forced or child labour.
• The federal government can designate countries or areas of concern and can list specific companies that use forced or child labour.
• Goods from those places or companies are automatically treated as banned unless the importer provides set proof and shows due diligence.
• New rules (set in regulations) will spell out supply‑chain tracing, certifications, information to provide, and deadlines.
• The government must review listed companies every five years and can add or remove names as facts change.

What it means for you#

• Importers and businesses

  • If you source from a designated country/area or a listed company, expect your shipments to be detained until you submit required documents and proof.
  • You will need to trace your supply chain, collect certifications, keep records, and meet deadlines to show you exercised due diligence.
  • Even if you are compliant, clearance may take longer and could add storage, inspection, and admin costs.
  • You may need to shift suppliers or change purchasing contracts to avoid high‑risk sources.

• Customs brokers and logistics firms

  • Prepare for more document checks, tighter timelines, and added coordination with clients whose goods are flagged.
  • You may need new procedures to track certifications and respond quickly to customs requests.

• Consumers

  • Some products from affected regions or companies could become harder to find or take longer to reach shelves.
  • Prices for some goods could rise if businesses change suppliers or face higher compliance costs.
  • The goal is to reduce the chance that items you buy were made with forced or child labour.

• Workers and human rights groups

  • The bill aims to cut demand for goods made with forced or child labour by blocking them at the border.
  • It gives the government tools to focus on higher‑risk regions and companies.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Makes Canada’s import ban enforceable by shifting the burden of proof to importers for high‑risk places and bad‑actor companies.
• Helps prevent goods made with forced or child labour from entering Canada, protecting vulnerable workers and children.
• Brings clearer rules on supply‑chain tracing, documentation, and due diligence so companies know what is expected.
• Aligns Canada with approaches used by key trading partners that also presume certain high‑risk goods are tainted unless proven otherwise.
• Allows updates over time by adding or removing countries and companies as conditions change.

Opponents' View#

• Could slow border processing and disrupt supply chains, especially for small and medium importers that lack compliance staff.
• May increase costs that businesses pass on to consumers, due to extra paperwork, delays, and supplier changes.
• Risk of false positives: lawful goods could be detained or refused if documentation is incomplete or standards are unclear.
• Designating countries or listing entities might be seen as political, potentially straining trade relations.
• Effective enforcement will require significant capacity at the border; without it, the system could cause uncertainty without achieving its goals.