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ARTICLE · 06 JULY 2026

Canada Introduces Bill C-35: The Ban On Importing Goods Made With Forced Labour Act

Gardiner Roberts LLP
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Canada's proposed Ban on Importing Goods Made with Forced Labour Act represents a fundamental shift in trade enforcement, moving from a tariff-based mechanism to a standalone legislative framework with enhanced border interdiction powers. The legislation empowers the Minister of Foreign Affairs to maintain a regulatory list of suspect goods while granting the Canada Border Services Agency expanded authority to detain shipments and require importers to prove compliance. This development comes amid internatio

CanadaInternational Law
Rui Fernandes
Rui Fernandes
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On June 12, 2026, the Canadian government introduced Bill C-35, formally titled the Ban on Importing Goods Made with Forced Labour Act, in the House of Commons. Sponsored by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the legislation represents a significant strengthening of Canada's trade enforcement framework by establishing a standalone prohibition on the importation of goods produced through forced labour.

Historical Background

In 2020, Canada introduced a forced labour import ban under the Customs Tariff to meet its obligations under the Canadian-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

This ban is enforced at the border by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), with support from multiple federal partners. The current framework relies on a risk-based approach to identify shipments of goods that may have been produced by forced labour.

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