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ARTICLE · 08 SEPTEMBER 2023

Canada's Prohibitions On Forced And Child Labour: A Customs Perspective

Dentons Canada LLP
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On July 1, 2020, the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) entered into force.

CanadaInternational Law
Sean Stephenson
Sean Stephenson
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As many businesses in Canada prepare for the upcoming reporting period under Canada's Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, one issue that deserves significant consideration is Canada's prohibition on forced and child labour. While the reporting legislation provides some further transparency to third parties on the measures taken by reporting entities to reduce and minimize forced and child labour in their supply chains, the customs prohibitions in Canada pose a significant potential for business disruption, cost and reputational harm, both for importers and other downstream parties, such as distributors, wholesalers, retailers and even consumers. We review the key elements of the prohibitions below.

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Dentons is the world's first polycentric global law firm. A top 20 firm on the Acritas 2015 Global Elite Brand Index, the Firm is committed to challenging the status quo in delivering consistent and uncompromising quality and value in new and inventive ways. Driven to provide clients a competitive edge, and connected to the communities where its clients want to do business, Dentons knows that understanding local cultures is crucial to successfully completing a deal, resolving a dispute or solving a business challenge. Now the world's largest law firm, Dentons' global team builds agile, tailored solutions to meet the local, national and global needs of private and public clients of any size in more than 125 locations serving 50-plus countries. www.dentons.com

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