Canada’s federal government tells the Trump administration that proposed tariffs tied to forced labour in supply chains have “no basis.” In a written submission to the United States Trade Representative’s office, Canada argues that recent Canadian legislation and enforcement efforts to curb imports linked to exploitation support Canada’s position and should protect Canadian goods from the proposed trade penalties. The submission also says Canada “remains committed to working closely with the United States to eradicate forced labour from global supply chains.”
The Canadian government’s message is consistent across multiple outlets: it frames the policy response around combating forced labour through domestic measures and coordination with U.S. authorities, rather than accepting the premise of new tariff action against Canada. The submissions are part of Canada’s engagement with the U.S. process for developing or justifying trade remedies. The reports do not indicate a change in U.S. policy in response, but they summarize Canada’s stance that its current framework already addresses the problem the tariffs are meant to target.
