Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his lack of surprise at the Trump administration’s intention to impose import tariffs on products believed to be manufactured using forced labor. The U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s office released a report on Tuesday identifying numerous countries, including Canada, for their inadequate enforcement measures against goods produced with forced labor.
According to the report, Canada and several other nations have been criticized for not effectively enforcing import bans on such products. As a response, the U.S. plans to introduce a 10% tariff on imports from Canada and other countries, with exceptions for goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), protecting a significant portion of Canadian exports to the U.S.
Prime Minister Carney remarked that the U.S.’s tariff proposal had been anticipated and was under consideration for some time. This round of tariffs follows the overturning of previous levies imposed by the U.S. Supreme Court in February under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Greer initiated an investigation into forced labor practices in March under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, with the latest report highlighting several countries facing a higher tariff rate of 12.5% for their failure to enforce import bans on goods made with forced labor.
Carney acknowledged the concerns regarding forced labor in imported goods and mentioned upcoming enforcement regulations to strengthen Canada’s enforcement mechanisms. Minister LeBlanc and Greer discussed proposals for the CUSMA review during a meeting in Washington, emphasizing the importance of cooperation to prohibit goods produced with forced labor in the North American market.
The U.S. has previously accused Canada of being sluggish in enforcing import bans and reports have surfaced regarding goods manufactured using forced labor entering the Canadian market. Carney emphasized the need for continuous improvement in preventing products made with forced labor from entering Canada.
Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong criticized the U.S.’s latest actions as unjustified and urged the Canadian government to take more decisive steps against forced labor. Opposition parties have called for stronger actions to eliminate forced labor from Canadian supply chains, emphasizing the importance of protecting human and labor rights.