Trade
At Congressum, through our network of trade and regulatory affairs experts, communications professionals, and business entrepreneurs, we have the experience to assess the major constraints that may block or limit the expansion of your brands in Canada. Moreover, we are eager to help you identify suitable alternatives to overcome those obstacles. Our goal is to facilitate sales growth through efficiencies, and most importantly, smart-go-to-market strategies.
The sustained growth of bilateral trade between Canada and the United States has been driven by the integration of production activities in both countries, changes in consumption patterns, and heightened economic activity across border regions. At Congressum, we focus on leveraging those interdependent relationships between governments, business people, and consumers to tackle persisting trade irritants for the benefit of our clients.
We believe in trade liberalization across borders and a larger global market for all.
We believe in the power of trade to bring people together and to lower costs for buyers, sellers and consumers.
We focus our attention not only on direct costs: freight charges, insurance, marketing and promotion. We also know how to address indirect costs: financial cost of transit times, search costs, unexpected legal and brokerage fees, and currency volatility!
Why you should consider exporting to Canada:
Canada is a dynamic country and on a mission to achieve long term sustainable economic growth. Canada is the US’ largest trading partner.
Canada is a free trade partner with the United States: under the former NAFTA agreement, Canada and the US eliminated almost all tariffs and quantitative restrictions on agricultural goods, and strengthened scientific and technical cooperation to facilitate trade.
The new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), known as CUSMA or ACEUM in Canada, is expected to further strengthen the bilateral agricultural relationship between the two countries, and create new export opportunities for US agriculture and Canada's food security.
Canada has experienced steady population growth, from 24 million in 1980 to about 41 million today. Approximately 24 percent of Canadians were born outside Canada. In Toronto, Canada’s largest city, this number is over 45 percent.
Canada’s immigrant population has had the effect of increasing the country’s diversity of dietary preferences.
Canada receives 25 million visitors per year. Three out of four visitors come from the United States.
Canadian residents made nearly 34 million trips to the US in 2023 (about three-quarters of all trips were by car).
Canada has a per capita income of over US$55,000 and ranks number 6 in the world and first in the Americas in life expectancy, 84 years.
Canada seeks to serve as a global model for stability, sustainable prosperity, and economic inclusion.
In FY 2022, Canada continued to be a top destination for US agricultural exports, which amounted to US$28.4 billion, according to the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.
Canada is the number one export destination for US consumer foods, US$22.2 billion!
Did you know that two thirds of Canadians live within 100 km or 62 mi. of the US border?
From west to east, the metropolitan areas with the largest populations: Vancouver, 2.7 million; Calgary, 1.5 million; Edmonton, 1.4 million, Toronto, 6.5 million; Ottawa-Gatineau, 1.4 million; and Montreal, 4.3 million.
