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Canada says there's no basis for Trump's forced labour tariffs

Published July 8, 2026 at 6:50 PM UTC

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The Canadian government has formally responded to the United States' proposed tariffs on Canadian goods, asserting that there is no basis for such measures. In a written submission to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, Canada emphasized its commitment to eradicating forced labour from global supply chains and highlighted existing legislation aimed at preventing the importation of products made with forced labour. The submission also referenced Bill C-35, which seeks to enhance enforcement by creating a public list of products linked to forced labour in specific regions. The Canadian government urged the U.S. to assess Canada separately under Section 301 and to prioritize targeted bilateral enforcement cooperation over broad country-level measures. This response comes amid a broader U.S. investigation into 60 countries, including Canada, regarding the enforcement of bans on forced labour. The U.S. Trade Representative had proposed a 10% duty on countries deemed to be insufficiently enforcing such bans. Canada's submission underscores the importance of continued cooperation between the two nations to address the issue of forced labour effectively.