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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.
These agreements provide you with guaranteed access to covered government procurement opportunities across the CPTPP countries. They ensure systems for procurement are transparent, accessible and that you can compete with local businesses on equal terms.
The rules governing government procurement between UK businesses and Canadian procuring entities are set out in:
- CPTPP Chapter 15: Government Procurement (this link takes you to the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry, which is responsible for the CPTPP agreement text)
- the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA)
- the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Finding information on government procurement opportunities in Canada
The Canadian government is the leading purchaser of goods and services in Canada. Canada has an increasing need for infrastructure, as well as opportunities in other sectors such as services and life sciences.
UK businesses can access government procurement opportunities on the Canadian government procurement tender system: CanadaBuys.
The UK and other CPTPP countries have agreed rules for government procurement processes. These rules make it unlawful for procuring entities to discriminate against you in relation to covered procurement opportunities and ensure that procurement processes are carried out in a transparent and fair manner.
There are several requirements set out in these agreements which benefit you when participating in another CPTPP government procurement market. However, please note that the full list of requirements is not provided in this guidance.
Non-discrimination
A guarantee of non-discrimination when you bid for covered procurement contracts under the categories listed in the market access schedules (further detail on market access schedules follows). This means that when bidding for covered contracts, and throughout the procurement process, you should receive the same treatment as domestic businesses.
Disclosure of information
If your bid is unsuccessful, you can request information on the contract award decision. This means that, where it is possible to do so without disclosing confidential information, the procuring entity should provide you with an explanation of the reasons why they did not select your tender or the relative advantages of the successful tender.
Domestic review procedures
Each CPTPP country must have an impartial and independent review authority to enable supplier challenges or complaints. Procuring entities are also required to consider complaints fairly, promptly and in a way that does not affect your access to ongoing or future procurements. This means that if you believe there has been a breach of rules, you can challenge the procuring entity's decisions.
Electronic processes
A commitment to conduct government procurement via electronic means where possible.
Canada’s market access schedules set out the procuring entities and sectors that are covered under UK-Canada FTA and CPTPP rules. They also include information on the value a procurement contract must be worth to be covered and detail of any exemptions to coverage.
For the UK-Canada FTA, Canada’s market access schedule can be found in Annexes 19.1 to 19.8 and include province and local government.
For CPTPP, Canada’s market access schedule can be found in Annex 15 A to J Canada Government Procurement (this link directs you to the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry, which is responsible for the CPTPP agreement text).
Entities
Canada provides substantial coverage of its government procurement opportunities in its market access schedules, including:
- central government entities across a wide range of sectors, including health research, energy and transport. Canada’s schedules include entities such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, and the National Energy Board. This guarantees the right of UK businesses to compete for federal public procurement contracts in these sectors on equal terms as Canadian suppliers
- local government entities across Canada’s provinces, which are responsible for a significant proportion of total government procurement spending. This guarantees the right of UK suppliers to compete on equal terms as Canadian suppliers in province-level government, in key sectors including education, health and transport
Goods, services including construction services
You have legally guaranteed access to procurement opportunities across many different areas, including valuable public works construction contracts such as:
- computer services
- accounting and auditing services
- taxation services
- management consulting services
- restaurant and hotel services
Conditions for participating in government procurement
In order to participate in procurement opportunities in a CPTPP country, you do not need prior experience or contracts with procuring entities in that country. A procuring entity may advertise conditions of participation, which must relate only to ensuring suppliers’ legal and financial capacity and commercial and technical ability to fulfil the contract.
Procuring entities will evaluate your bid by reference to these conditions, based on your activities whether inside or outside CPTPP countries.
You may be excluded from participating in a procurement for various reasons if there is supporting evidence for the exclusion, including:
- bankruptcy or insolvency
- false declarations
- deficiencies in performance of requirements under a prior contract
- failure to pay taxes
- serious crimes, offences or professional misconduct
Additional information for selling goods and services in Canada
Selling goods overseas will require following certain rules and regulations you have in place with your buyer. View additional guidance on international commercial terms and import conditions into Canada.
The Canada Border Services Agency regulate all goods imported into Canada. You will need to provide important declarations and documents, in addition to paying all relevant duties and taxes. You can check our guide on tariffs and customs in Canada.
Providing services overseas will have other consequences including for tax, intellectual property and local labour regulations. Please refer to the following for more advice:
UK and Canada have also agreed provisions to make it easier for business persons to travel and stay temporarily in Canada. For more information, you can check our guide on temporary entry in Canada.
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.
