Innovating Canada
The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade discusses how Canada is diversifying trade, attracting investment and connecting Canadian businesses with global markets to build stronger, more resilient supply chains.
Why is international trade important for strengthening Canada’s supply chains?
Diversifying our trade is how we reduce dependence on any single partner. Canada and Mexico rely on a single trading partner more than almost any other country in the G20, and that is why we are moving at speed to double our non-U.S. exports to $300 billion by 2035, negotiating agreements with India, the Philippines, Thailand, Qatar, ASEAN, and Mercosur, and soon beginning talks with Türkiye.
And our diversification efforts are working. Cameco in Saskatchewan secured a $2.6 billion contract to supply India with uranium when Prime Minister Carney and I were in India. Quebec-based Marconi secured a contract to deliver tactical radios to Poland with Canada’s new preferential access to the EU’s SAFE fund.
And thanks to our Team Canada trade mission to Japan, Covered Bridge Chips in New Brunswick is now shipping its product to Costco Japan. The agreements we conclude will unlock even more opportunities for our businesses and create more good-paying jobs across the country.
How is Canada positioning itself as a trusted trading partner in an increasingly uncertain global economy?
Canada is a partner the world can count on. The world knows that we stand behind our agreements, and that trust is our competitive advantage. We already have preferential access to 1.5 billion consumers, and we’re set to double that within six months. We have a track record of delivering the resources, the talent, and the capabilities global markets need.
That’s why countries like Germany are securing deals with Canadian companies like Ksi Lisims LNG, including a deal to purchase 2 million tonnes of Canadian LNG annually for up to 20 years.
It’s the reason our Critical Minerals Production Alliance is driving $19.2 billion into Canadian critical minerals projects, through 69 partnerships and initiatives that are putting Canadian companies at the centre of global supply chains. It’s also why we’re deepening our trade and investment relationship with the EU. That reliability is why partners keep choosing Canada, and what tells them a deal with us is a deal they can count on.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for Canada’s manufacturing sector in global trade and building more resilient supply chains?
As we work to double our non-U.S. exports, we are focused not only on where we sell, but on what we sell. Canada’s manufacturers have the talent and capacity across aerospace, defence, AI, and clean technology to compete and win globally, creating good-paying jobs right here at home.
When Canada shows up, we win. Just look at Airbus Canada, which secured an order to deliver 150 A220 aircraft to AirAsia. That will support over 27,000 jobs across our aerospace supply chain and leverage more than 850 Canadian suppliers. I’ve seen the same story in Brampton with MDA, which secured a defence satellite contract with Mitsubishi Electric during our Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan. Companies like CAE and BlackBerry have secured deals that showcase the same point: Canada can compete and win around the world.
And now, with our Strategic Exports Office, we’re focused on securing high-value opportunities in manufacturing and beyond to create even more good-paying jobs and diversify our trade.
How can Canada ensure its supply chains remain competitive, secure, and ready for future challenges?
In the past year, we have secured 20 new trade and security agreements around the world, which is why non-U.S. exports grew 17% in 2025.
But we’re also building big. The Major Projects Office is fast-tracking nation-building projects, including ports, energy corridors, and resource development, that will unlock our full economic potential. We have already broken ground on a number of these, including Contrecouer at the Port of Montreal, Nouveau Monde Graphite, and the Mackenzie Valley Highway, which will create thousands of good-paying jobs. Many of the projects we are accelerating will deliver more of our exports to key markets like Europe and Asia, and our Canada Investment Summit is unleashing nearly $500 billion in new investment to power these projects and the next wave of Canadian growth.
We will continue building our strength at home, diversifying our trade abroad, and attracting new investment into Canada.
