Bill C-251: An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Customs Tariff (forced labour and child labour)

This bill primarily affects Canadian businesses that import goods — manufacturers sourcing raw materials or components from overseas, wholesalers, retailers importing finished products, and trading companies. Any importer bringing in goods from countries or entities that the Governor in Council designates as subjects of concern would face mandatory detention of their shipments at the border and bear the burden of proving their goods were not produced with forced labour or child labour. Day-to-day, affected businesses would need to implement rigorous supply chain tracing, maintain detailed documentation of their sourcing practices, obtain prescribed certifications, and demonstrate due diligence to customs officers before goods are released. The impact is size-agnostic in legal terms, but smaller importers and solo operators would be disproportionately burdened by the compliance costs of supply chain auditing and certification, while larger importers with established compliance departments may adapt more readily.