Global Affairs Canada

Online Training Program

Global Trade Commissioner Training Program

Canada has made a national priority of increasing support Canadian businesses, ensuring they advantage of the opportunities of free trade agreements (FTAs) the country has signed. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service has offices in 161 locations around the world. Trade commissioners offer numerous programs and services to help Canadian businesses pursue partnerships and commercialization opportunities in new markets, and offer financial support and practical advice to help conduct international business – free of charge.

The challenge is that free trade agreements are enormous.

The documentation for each runs in the thousands of pages, full of conditions and exceptions. But the potential advantages for companies are also enormous, if they can be understood and leveraged. This creates a pressing need for Global Affairs to educate trade commissioners on FTA commitments and explaining their benefits, as well as the resources and experts that exist to support them.

The challenge is that free trade agreements are enormous. The documentation for each runs in the thousands of pages, full of conditions and exceptions. But the potential advantages for companies are enormous. This creates a pressing need for Global Affairs to educate trade commissioners on FTA commitments and explaining their benefits, as well as the resources and experts that exist to support them.

Recent studies have demonstrated a lack of awareness or understanding and underutilization of Canada’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). In light of the recent and rapid conclusion of Canada’s most ambitious FTAs – particularly the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), and the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (CUSMA)