Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed his lack of surprise at the Trump administration’s intention to impose import tariffs on products allegedly produced using forced labor. A recent report from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s office identified several countries, including Canada, for their inadequate enforcement mechanisms concerning goods manufactured with forced labor.

The report accused Canada and a few other nations of not effectively enforcing import bans on such items. Consequently, the U.S. is proposing a new 10% levy on Canada and others, with exemptions for goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), safeguarding the majority of Canada’s exports to the U.S.

Prime Minister Carney stated that the U.S.’s tariff plan had been anticipated for several months. The latest tariffs follow earlier levies imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which were invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court in February.

After the Supreme Court ruling, President Trump pledged to introduce new tariffs through alternative means. Temporary tariffs have been imposed under Section 122 of the U.S. Trade Act, but these will expire unless Congress extends them.

In response to the report from Greer’s office, Canada’s Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, Dominic LeBlanc, linked the overturning of the IEEPA tariffs to the new proposals. Prime Minister Carney acknowledged the concerns regarding goods produced with forced labor and mentioned upcoming enforcement rule enhancements to strengthen Canada’s regulatory framework.

The U.S. report came shortly after Greer’s meeting with LeBlanc in Washington, where proposals for the CUSMA review were discussed. Carney emphasized the need for improved measures to prevent products made with forced labor from entering Canada. Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong criticized the U.S.’s actions as unjustified and urged the Liberal government to take more decisive actions against forced labor practices.