The federal government has announced the creation of Canada’s Strategic Exports Office (SEO), a new initiative designed to help Canadian businesses secure international opportunities and diversify exports beyond the U.S.
International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu unveiled the office on Friday, saying it will operate within Global Affairs Canada in close partnership with Export Development Canada (EDC). The new office will coordinate government support for businesses pursuing major international opportunities in strategic sectors such as aerospace, defence, infrastructure and energy.
The Strategic Exports Office will bring together Canada’s diplomatic, commercial and financial expertise to help companies overcome trade barriers, identify large-scale export opportunities, coordinate federal support across departments and provide high-level government advocacy when needed.
While in Brampton, Sidhu also announced the formation of the Strategic Exports Advisory Council, a group of senior executives from some of Canada’s largest companies and business organizations. The council will advise the government on trade diversification, provide industry feedback and help shape the operations of the new office.
The inaugural council includes leaders from OpenText, Bombardier, CAE, De Havilland, MDA Space, Telesat, Cameco, AtkinsRéalis, WSP, Nouveau Monde Graphite, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Scotiabank and Manulife.
According to the government, the council represents organizations supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across Canada.
The announcement is part of Canada’s broader strategy to double exports to markets outside the United States by 2035 and strengthen the country’s long-term economic competitiveness.
Minister Sidhu said the government has already helped Canadian companies secure more than $28 billion in international sales under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s leadership, adding that the new office and advisory council will provide businesses with coordinated, whole-of-government support to compete in global markets.
The government said trade diversification efforts are already producing results. Goods exports to non-U.S. markets increased by approximately 17 per cent between 2024 and 2025, while exports of goods and services to those markets rose by $33 billion during the same period, supporting Canada’s goal of generating an additional $300 billion in overseas trade over the next decade.
