Bill C-35: Ban on Importing Goods Made with Forced Labour Act

Any Canadian business that imports goods from overseas — whether you're bringing in textiles, electronics, agricultural products, minerals, or manufactured components — will need to be able to demonstrate your supply chain is free of forced labour. If your goods end up on the Minister's watch list, you'll have to respond to CBSA information requests at the border or face your shipment being blocked outright. Importers of any size are affected, from a solo entrepreneur sourcing products from overseas suppliers to a mid-sized manufacturer importing raw materials or parts, and the liability for detention and storage costs falls jointly on both the importer and the goods' owner. Businesses sourcing from higher-risk regions or industries — such as apparel, seafood, electronics, or mining products from certain countries — face the greatest day-to-day operational exposure.