International Trade Law in Canada

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

Canadian international trade law comprises the body of domestic legislation, international agreements, and institutional frameworks that govern Canada’s cross-border trade in goods, services, and investment. As a trading nation whose exports represent over 30% of gross domestic product, Canada maintains a dense network of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements while administering a domestic regime of customs regulation, trade remedies, export controls, and economic sanctions.

The constitutional foundation involves a complex division of powers. The federal Crown possesses treaty-making authority under the royal prerogative, while legislative jurisdiction over trade and commerce falls to Parliament under s. 91(2) of the Constitution Act, 1867. However, matters touching property and civil rights (s. 92(13)) and matters of a local or private nature (s. 92(16)) fall to the provinces, creating significant complexity in the implementation of trade agreements that affect provincial regulatory authority, such as government procurement, financial services regulation, and professional qualifications.

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International Trade Law in Canada

Introduction