Ottawa opening exports office as part of strategy to diversify trade

OTTAWA — The federal government is opening a new strategic exports office as part of its plan to diversify trade.

The office, announced in Budget 2025, will be housed under Global Affairs Canada and will be tasked with removing trade irritants, lifting market access barriers and addressing infrastructure gaps.

The government says the office will help Canada secure international business opportunities in sectors that include aerospace, defence, infrastructure and energy.

International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu told a press conference Thursday the office will help Canada’s “best companies win the biggest contracts in the toughest markets around the world.”

Global Affairs Canada said the office will identify export opportunities, co-ordinate government engagement to support Canadian firms and support advocacy by senior government officials.

“Think of the strategic export office as your government-level deal-maker,” said Sidhu. “It brings strategic advocacy, government financing and diplomatic support together in one place.”

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Sidhu said boards of trade and commerce organizations across the country have indicated to him that Canada is losing out on business because it’s not as co-ordinated as other countries.

“They would get to the finish line, another state leader would swoop in, a trade minister would swoop and make a call, and billions of dollars of deals would be lost,” he said. “Better coordination is what’s required.”

Conservative MP and international trade critic Stephanie Kusie said Thursday that Liberals have had more than a decade to get co-ordinated on international trade.

“Now their answer is another government office with no clear targets, timeline or measurable results,” she said. “Canadian exporters need action from their government, not another bureaucratic announcement or advisory council.”

The Liberals have set a goal of doubling non-U.S. exports over the next decade.

The government’s spring economic update said non-U.S. goods and services exports increased by $33 billion in 2025 over 2024.

Samantha Lafleur, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, said in an email last week that in the first quarter of this year, non-U.S. exports of goods and services were worth $96.2 billion.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has boasted of signing more than 20 strategic trade and defence agreements around the world over the past year.

Ottawa signed a free trade deal with Ecuador last Friday. The same day, the governments of Canada and the United Arab Emirates announced they had concluded negotiations on a free-trade agreement.

On Thursday, Sidhu also announced the launch a strategic exports advisory council.

Global Affairs Canada said the council will provide a space for “strategic dialogue” between the government and private sector leaders on trade diversification and the operations of the strategic exports office.

Members of the council include the heads of OpenText, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Bombardier.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2026.

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press