WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is proposing a 10 per cent additional tariff on Canada and other countries following an investigation into forced labour in supply chains.

The United States Trade Representative released a report late Tuesday saying Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and some other countries should be hit with the duties because they are not doing enough to enforce bans on forced labour.

It also proposes a 12.5 per cent duty on dozens of other countries which have partial or no bans on forced labour in supply chains.

“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a news release.

“This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field.”

The new tariff would not apply to goods compliant under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement on trade, known as CUSMA.

The investigations into forced labour under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 were launched in March in an effort to shore up U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

They are meant to give Trump a legal basis to continue his worldwide tariff agenda after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his favourite tool, which he used for his “Liberation Day” tariffs and fentanyl-related duties on Canada, Mexico and China.

In response to the top court’s February ruling, Trump implemented a 10 per cent worldwide tariff using Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. But those duties expire after 150 days unless Congress votes to extend them.

The forced labour tariffs could be more durable but would require further public consultation before implementation. The United States trade representative is scheduled to hold hearings on the tariffs in July.

Canada already has legislation intended to curb forced labour in supply chains which requires annual reports to the federal government.

There are also rules in CUSMA that ban forced labour in supply chains, something Greer noted in the news release.

“Some trading partners have taken initial steps to prevent the importation of forced labour goods, including through (CUSMA) and commitments in Agreements on Reciprocal Trade,” Greer said. “However, each of our trading partners must do more to ensure that trade does not perversely encourage and entrench forced labour globally.”

The new tariff threat came a few hours after Greer met with Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc in Washington ahead of a review of the continental trade pact.

When asked about the possibility of new tariffs Tuesday, LeBlanc said Ottawa had been preparing for the investigation. LeBlanc said he discussed with Greer Canada’s shared commitment to fighting forced labour.

“We have made submissions to the United States that we think are very significant in addressing the concerns that the United States has raised for a number of months,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2026.

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press