Trade mission delegates at the Sydney Opera House, in front of the harbour bridge. Photo: Trade Canada/Twitter (X)
A Canadian trade mission came to the country looking for new deals amid their country’s ongoing trade tariff row with the US.
The 220-strong delegation was led by Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng.
She visited Federal Trade Minister Don Farrell at Clare Valley, South Australia, before they attended an Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum held in Sydney.
Her visit ended on Tuesday (February 18) but the delegation, representing 140 organisations, will visit Brisbane and Melbourne on February 20 and 21.
“(Her) visit to Australia and the forum is an opportunity to showcase Australia as a top destination for trade and investment, including across agriculture, clean energy, and technology,” Farrell says.
He says two-way trade is worth around $11 billion while Canada is Australia’s eighth largest investor at $104 billion.
US THREAT
A Canadian government statement says the ministers discussed shared priorities such as economic security, critical minerals and growing trade and investment ties.
“It is more important than ever for Canada to continue to diversify trade and grow opportunities for our businesses in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond to create good middle-class jobs for Canadians,” Ng says.
“I look forward to showcasing Canadian strengths and capabilities in Australia to help Canadian exporters and innovators forge new connections.”
US President Donald Trump has paused a plan to slap a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports but Ng told Australian media during her visit that her country is ready to respond with reciprocal measures if the tariff is imposed.
Australia is also facing US tariffs on steel and aluminium exports to the US.
She also visited Canadian companies operating in Australia before she flew to Singapore and Brunei.
REGIONAL TRADE
The trade delegation comprised of organisations working in sectors like agri-food and agricultural technologies, clean technologies and clean energy, mining equipment technology and services, and information and communications technologies.
Canadian businesses are said to be eyeing Australia as a springboard to South-East Asia.
The Indo-Pacific region remains Canada’s second-largest export market after the US; in 2023, yearly two-way trade between the region and Canada was valued at $257 billion.
The Canadian government says the mission will showcase its country as a trusted business partner and that their businesses will also look to expand Down Under.
