Clearing the Path to International Trade: Highlights from BCCTC’s New Event Series

On October 1st, Martin Buckle, Vice President of the British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce (BCCTC), launched a new event series titled “Let’s Talk – Clearing the Path to International Trade.” The initiative aims to help Canadian businesses navigate the complexities of global markets and explore new opportunities abroad.

The inaugural session featured opening remarks by Mairead Lavery, who emphasized the unprecedented disruptions reshaping global trade. “We are experiencing the greatest shift in trade since the Second World War,” she noted, pointing to the rise of new economic players, shifting imbalances, and the transformative role of technology in how business is conducted today.

Key Insights from the Discussion

• National Security and Trade: Canada’s trade strategy increasingly recognizes that national security is tied to economic security. This requires building resilience within industries and aligning trade with defense and sustainability priorities.

• Services and Sustainability: The services sector is becoming more vital in trade, while environmental responsibility remains a crucial consideration in the exchange of goods.

• Competitiveness and Planning: Companies must identify where demand lies, tailor their strategies to specific markets, and—most importantly—develop a robust export plan.

• Trade Agreements: For Canada, the most critical agreements remain CUSMA, CETA, and the Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement. Diversification, participants agreed, is essential for economic stability.

Mairead also highlighted the importance of leveraging Canada’s strong diaspora connections with the UK—ties deeper than with any other European nation. She emphasized the untapped potential of agreements like CPTPP, which remain underutilized compared to CETA.

Exporting: Opportunity and Risk

Exporting requires significant investment and carries risk, but organizations such as Export Development Canada (EDC) play a key role in bridging market gaps. While the U.S. offers a strong entrepreneurial environment, Canada must continue to strengthen support for exporters to remain competitive.

Insights from Panel Experts

• Andy Baker (Strong & Heard): Outlined practical pathways for Canadian exporters entering the UK market.

• Marcus Hinkley (Gowling WLG): Stressed the importance of thorough due diligence to avoid unexpected challenges when entering new markets.

• Hunter Fox (Gowling WLG): Shared that while a full UK-Canada agreement is not yet on the horizon, both nations remain deeply committed to strengthening bilateral trade.

Hunter also addressed the upcoming challenges in renegotiating CUSMA, describing it as a “reset of the table” for all three member nations. Predictability, rather than the mere presence of tariffs, is the key concern. The objective is not to eliminate tariffs entirely, but to manage and reduce them, ideally to the 10–15% range. He also noted the possibility of an annual review mechanism, which Canada hopes to avoid.

Building a Support Network

Beyond trade agreements and policy, the discussion underscored the value of community and networks. Organizations such as OWIT (Organization of Women in International Trade), the Canada-U.S. Business Association, and the BCCTC provide critical platforms for small business owners and entrepreneurs to navigate tariffs, regulations, and global market entry.

Takeaway:

The “Let’s Talk” series underscores that international trade is both a challenge and an opportunity for Canadian businesses. Success requires preparation, resilience, and the right partnerships. With shifting global dynamics and evolving agreements, Canadian exporters must adapt quickly, invest strategically, and leverage networks to thrive.