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ARTICLE · 29 JUNE 2026

Draft Forced Labour Ban

Millar Kreklewetz
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Canada introduces Bill C-35 to prohibit imports of goods produced by forced labour, responding to US criticism and potential tariffs. The legislation empowers customs officers with detention authority and creates a Prohibited List requiring importers to provide prescribed documentation. Will these enhanced enforcement measures satisfy the US Administration and prevent additional trade penalties?

CanadaInternational Law
John Bassindale
John Bassindale
David West
David West

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Our firm has recently written on Canada’s forced labour laws here and here. In a further update to Canada’s legislative regime designed to combat forced labour, Bill C-35 was introduced on June 12, 2026, with the aim of prohibiting the importation of goods produced by forced labour (the “Bill C-35”).

In this report, we review the political background that gave rise to this draft forced labour legislation and outline its contents.

Political Background

Canada previously enacted the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (the “Fighting Forced Labour Act”), which came into force on May 11, 2023. The Fighting Forced Labour Act requires certain entities to file annual reports with the Government each year detailing steps taking to prevent/reduce the risk that forced labour was used in their respective supply chains. Failure to comply with these reporting obligations, or providing false/misleading information in a

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