Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu speaks at a press conference in Toronto on July 24, 2026. The Canadian Press/Sammy Kogan
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.”
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.
