What You Need to Know
Today, the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, announced the creation of Canada’s Strategic Exports Office (SEO) and the Strategic Exports Advisory Council. Established within the Trade Branch of Global Affairs Canada and led in close collaboration with Export Development Canada, the new office will strengthen Canada’s ability to secure international business opportunities and coordinate senior-level commercial engagement in strategic sectors, including aerospace and defence, infrastructure and energy. The Advisory Council brings together leaders from Canada’s top companies, representing hundreds of thousands of workers, to identify opportunities and break down barriers.
Last year, the Government of Canada supported more than $28 billion in commercial success for Canadian businesses. Every export contract won abroad means jobs and opportunities here at home. In an increasingly complex and competitive global environment, Canadian businesses are looking for greater support as they diversify their exports to markets around the world. The SEO will bring together Canada’s diplomatic, commercial and financial expertise under the leadership of Minister Sidhu to remove trade barriers and open more doors for Canadian companies, helping them land the contracts that build stronger supply chains and create good jobs across every province and territory.
By combining Canada’s diplomacy efforts, market intelligence and financial know-how, the SEO will support Canadian businesses pursuing strategic export opportunities by:
Identifying and advancing large-scale export opportunities critical to Canada’s economic interests;
Coordinating whole-of-government engagement to support Canadian firms; and,
Supporting targeted advocacy by senior government officials where it can be decisive.
Please amplify the linked shareables! For more information, please see today’s news release.
Key Messages
Minister Sidhu also announced the launch of Canada’s Strategic Exports Advisory Council. The council will provide a forum for strategic dialogue between the Government of Canada and private sector leaders on trade diversification and the operations of the SEO.
The council will advise the Minister on opportunities and challenges related to international trade diversification for Canadian businesses and provide real-time feedback on how to best support them.
The establishment of the SEO and the Strategic Exports Advisory Council reflects Canada’s commitment to trade diversification and supports Canada’s goal of doubling exports to markets outside the United States by 2035, positioning Canada for long-term economic growth.
The Strategic Exports Advisory Council will comprise private sector leaders who will provide the Government of Canada with practical insights into the realities Canadian businesses face on the ground, helping inform Canada’s approach to trade diversification and the operations of the SEO. The companies support hundreds of thousands of jobs in Canada.
Trade diversification efforts are already underway, with goods exports to non-U.S. markets up by roughly 36% since 2024. Exports of goods and services to non-U.S. markets increased by $33 billion in 2025 compared to 2024, on the way to meet the target of generating $300 billion more in overseas trade in a decade. Some examples of deals accelerating trade diversification include :
CAE (Montréal): $15M simulator deal with Malaysia Airlines, signed in Kuala Lumpur; Royal Jordanian followed this spring.
De Havilland (Calgary): ~1,400 workers. $69M to modernize Greece’s firefighting fleet; $21M Twin Otters to Ethiopian Airlines; Canadair 515s to six European countries via CCC — restarting a Canadian production line.
Airbus A220 (Mirabel): AirAsia commitment, one of Canadian aerospace’s largest. Thousands of Quebec jobs plus suppliers nationwide. Began at ASEAN with the PM and Tony Fernandes.
In the last year, the Government of Canada, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, has supported more than $28 billion in international sales of strategic exports.
