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Overview
Canada has widespread infrastructure plans and UK business experience in the field is highly valued. This provides UK businesses with a reliable pipeline of opportunities to export both goods and services.
UK businesses are respected in Canada, and they are recognised for long-term market experience and thought leadership. This helps UK suppliers looking to export, especially specialised technical and advisory services.
In 2016, Canada introduced the Investing in Canada Plan, which aims to invest $180 billion over 12 years to create long-term economic growth, support community resilience and support the transition to a clean growth economy. This includes dedicated investment streams focused on promoting investment into public transportation, utilities, housing and communities, transportation systems and environmental protection.
Trade agreements with Canada
The UK has 2 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Canada:
- the UK-Canada FTA which entered into force on 1 April 2021
- the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade agreement including 12 countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the UK and Vietnam), which entered into force between the UK and Canada on 1 September 2026
The UK-Canada FTA should be read in conjunction with the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) because the UK-Canada FTA incorporates provisions of the EU-Canada CETA. The following Parliamentary Report provides information about significant differences between the two.
The UK-Canada FTA will remain in force alongside CPTPP. At times, you will need to specify which agreement you choose to trade under (notably when applying rules of origin), but benefits from either agreement will mostly apply automatically. Our guides attempt to highlight where businesses may need to make an explicit decision.
CPTPP entry into force and ratification
As of 1 September 2026, CPTPP is in force between the UK and:
- Australia
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Peru
- Singapore
- Vietnam
This means that the UK can access CPTPP provisions with these countries.
Doing business in Canada
Canada is the world's second-largest country by land area and is home to more than 40 million people. It offers a stable political and economic environment, supported by strong and long-standing trade and investment ties with the UK.
It is a highly developed and competitive market with business practices that are familiar to many UK companies. Businesses and consumers place a strong emphasis on both value and quality, meaning that innovative products, services and business models can often help UK firms stand out from the competition.
In relation to the existing trade relationship, Canada is the UK's 15th largest export market. Total UK exports to Canada amounted to £19.6 billion in the 4 quarters to the end of quarter 1 2026, an increase of 8.4% compared with the previous year. Canada was also the UK's 14th largest trading partner, with total UK-Canada trade in goods and services reaching £35.3 billion over the same period.
Canada is a federal state. Your business in Canada will be subject to both federal and provincial or territorial laws. While English common law is the basis of law in most provinces and territories, French civil law is the basis of law in Québec. This can make doing business complicated for first-time exporters to the country.
For the latest statistics on trade and investment between the UK and Canada, see the Trade and investment factsheets on GOV.UK.
Relevant CPTPP provisions for UK businesses
Services
The existing UK-Canada trade continuity agreement (TCA) includes commitments for both federal and sub-federal levels of Canadian government to not discriminate against UK businesses.
The UK being part of CPTPP means Canada will not require UK businesses to establish or maintain a representative office or be a resident in order to provide services into Canada. This guarantees UK firms the ability to provide services on a cross-border basis, that is, remotely from the UK. However, this commitment is subject to reservations and UK businesses will need to check whether this applies to them by checking Canada’s services schedule.
These benefits help UK suppliers looking to export their services to Canada, for example, specialised technical and advisory services required to deliver complex infrastructure projects.
For more information, see our trading goods and services digitally guide.
Procurement
The UK-Canada TCA guarantees the right of UK suppliers to compete on equal terms as Canadian suppliers for public procurement contracts in the sectors:
- local government
- health
- education
- transport
Canada in its CPTPP schedule covers 22 additional service categories that they do not cover in their schedules to the WTO government procurement agreement or the UK-Canada TCA. This gives UK providers guaranteed right to compete for federal and provincial (but not municipal) public procurement contracts on equal terms as Canadian suppliers for the first time, in categories including:
- hotel and catering services
- real estate services
- packaging services
While businesses are not required to have been previously awarded a contract by the procuring entity, there may be instances where procuring entities set conditions for participation in government procurement. This may include requiring relevant prior experience if essential to meet advertised requirements.
To assess your bid for a government contract, a Canadian procuring entity can evaluate your business’s financial capacity and its commercial and technical abilities based on its activities whether inside or outside Canada.
A supplier may be excluded from participating in a procurement for various reasons if there is supporting evidence of:
- bankruptcy
- false declarations
- performance deficiencies
- failure to pay taxes
- serious crimes, offences or professional misconduct
Please note there may be specific conditions for certain sectors. For the full conditions see CPTPP Chapter 15: government procurement and 'UK-Canada FTA Chapter 19: government procurement'. For sector-specific conditions see market access schedules for CPTPP and UK-Canada FTA.
For more information, see our government procurement guide.
Trading digitally
Electronic authentication and electronic signatures
Electronic signatures and electronic authentication increase trust in e-commerce by helping to verify that transactions, and the people behind them, are genuine. Strengthening the legal validity of electronic signatures provides greater confidence that transactions can be concluded through electronic means.
CPTPP ensures that electronic signatures are considered valid by all CPTPP countries, and individuals and businesses can confidently use them.
The free flow of trusted data
The UK and other CPTPP countries have committed to not imposing unjustified data localisation requirements. CPTPP countries have also committed to not imposing unjustified server localisation requirements.
This means you do not have to bear additional costs associated with storing or processing data overseas, nor do you have to set up new facilities in another country. These costs are particularly prohibitive for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Paperless trading
CPTPP countries have committed to making trade administration documents available in electronic form and to accept electronic versions of those documents. This refers to documents which are required in connection with the import or export of a good and must be presented to customs authorities.
Beyond CPTPP, the UK also enables commercial trade documents that use English law to be accepted in electronic form. This includes documents such as bills of lading, promissory notes, and bills of exchange. This was enabled by the Electronic Trade Document Act.
For more information, see our trading goods and services digitally guide.
Temporary entry for skilled business persons
Business mobility provisions in trade agreements support the temporary movement of professionals to deliver services, negotiate commercial opportunities and undertake investment activities in person. They help reduce barriers to business travel and provide greater certainty for companies operating internationally.
CPTPP enhances temporary entry provisions between the UK and Canada, providing additional flexibility and certainty for eligible business travellers. These commitments can support UK businesses seeking to:
- establish commercial relationships
- negotiate contracts
- meet customers
- distributors and business partners
- deliver services
- manage investments and deploy skilled personnel
Under CPTPP, Canada has commitments covering 4 categories of business person:
- business visitors
- intra-corporate transferees
- investors
- independent professionals and technicians
Business visitors
Business visitors are permitted to stay for up to 6 months, with the possibility of extension, representing an increase from the previous 90 days in any 6-month period.
Intra-corporate transferees
These are executives, managers, specialists and certain management trainees transferring within a company for up to 3 years, with the possibility of extension. Accompanying spouses may also be eligible to work during their stay.
Investors
Individuals establishing, developing or administering a substantial investment in Canada may be eligible for stays of up to one year, with the possibility of extension. Accompanying spouses may also be eligible to work.
Independent professionals and technicians
Eligible professionals and technicians can obtain temporary entry for up to one year, with possible extensions, subject to qualification and experience requirements. Accompanying spouses may also be eligible to work.
Compared with the UK-Canada TCA, CPTPP goes further by extending the permitted stay for business visitors and providing dedicated commitments for investors, professionals and technicians. It also includes enhanced provisions for intra-corporate transferees and allows eligible accompanying spouses of certain businesspersons to work while in Canada.
Entry to Canada remains subject to applicants meeting the relevant immigration requirements and eligibility criteria established by the government of Canada. For full details on visa, work permit and entry requirements, visit government of Canada immigration and citizenship.
For more information, see our travelling to Canada for work guide.
Investment
Canada offers significant opportunities for infrastructure investment, supported by ongoing demand for the development and modernisation of transport, energy, utilities and public infrastructure. Long-term infrastructure planning, a stable investment environment and strong public and private sector participation continue to support project development across the country.
For UK infrastructure firms and investors, CPTPP supports investment by providing:
- non-discriminatory treatment for covered investments
- greater legal certainty through transparent investment rules and protections
- support for capital transfers related to investments
- a modern framework that complements CPTPP commitments on financial services and digital trade
CPTPP provides UK investors with greater certainty when establishing, expanding or acquiring businesses in Canada.
CPTPP does not prevent Canada from maintaining certain measures in sensitive areas. In financial services, Canada retains policy flexibility in areas including:
- banking regulation
- deposit-taking activities
- payment systems
- housing finance programmes
- certain provincial and territorial regulatory measures
For more information see Canada’s Financial Services Non-Conforming Measures.
For more information, see our investment guide.
Department for Business and Trade support
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) helps businesses export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade agreements, and champions free trade. Helpful links, tools and services available from DBT and wider government include:
Export Support Service (ESS) team
Get support on how to do business abroad. Businesses in Wales can also access support from Business Wales.
Export Support Service – International Markets (ESS-IM)
DBT's overseas in-market export support service for SMEs with high-export potential. Our International Market Advisers provide tailored support and market introduction information to new and current UK exporters looking to enter or expand into new markets. The service may be accessed globally with International Markets teams in South Asia, China, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, North America and Latin America.
Sign up to access webinars on how to grow your international sales.
Information on finance and insurance for UK exports.
Trade and investment factsheets
The latest statistics on trade and investment between the UK and individual overseas partners.
Overseas business risk profiles
Information for UK businesses on political, economic and security risks when trading overseas.
Advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.
Check or report a trade barrier
If you encounter an issue when exporting to any country – report the issue and UK government officials will be able to assess the issue and consider the options we have open to addressing it as appropriate.
Search for your specific product to find applicable tariffs for each market, explore rules of origin and step-by-step help on customs procedures.
Check import duties and allows you to check the status of available tariff rate quotas.
Useful resources
You can find more information about export opportunities, business culture and any existing trade barriers on our market guide.
Prior to export, you must be aware of local regulations and import conditions in Canada that apply to your goods or services. This can include tax considerations, labour laws, intellectual property rules, labelling and packaging regulations, among others.
To seek further information related to local regulations, business culture, or to find a local lawyer, translator, importer or distributor, you can use the following contacts:
- BIST's Export Support Service International Markets team
- get in touch with BIST at the local British Embassy
- get in touch with the British Chamber of Commerce
To see information on political, economic and security risks when trading with Canada, please see:
Legal disclaimer
This document is provided as an information guide only and should not be relied on as a substitute for your own research or independent advice.
No investment and/or business decision should be made solely on the basis of information presented in this document. It is recommended that an independent due diligence investigation is conducted before entering into engagement with any individual, business or other organisation mentioned.
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage caused to any person as result of any error, omission, inaccurate or misleading statement in this document.
The accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the content of any website mentioned in this document is not guaranteed in any way, implied or explicit.
