Getting Started in Canada

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Please visit Canada’s Trade.gov/ page for an overview of economic conditions and opportunities in the region.

I – Exporting to Canada

Getting Started

If you are considering doing business in Canada, here are some steps you may wish to consider as you get started:

  1. Visit Canada’s gov page to get an overview of economic conditions and opportunities. Access the Canada Country Commercial Guide containing industry market reports, authored by our specialists working across Canada’s posts.
  2. Contact Information and Links for Assistance:
    • Contact your local U.S. Export Assistance Center for advice and support on exporting to Canada.
    • Contact your local Small Business Development Center (SBDCs)
      Starting a business can be a challenge, but there is help for you in your area. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are partnerships primarily between the government and colleges/universities administered by the Small Business Administration and aims at giving educational services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
    • Contact in-country business support organizations
      Make use of our virtual and business matchmaking services: Whether you’re looking to make your first export sale or expand your business in Canada, we offer trade counseling, market intelligence, business matchmaking, and commercial diplomacy services. Please visit our virtual services page to help you connect with business opportunities.

1. Potential investors: Getting Started.

If you are considering investment in Canada, here are some steps you may wish to consider as you get started:

2. Current Investors: Staying Connected

If you are a current U.S. investor in Canada, the U.S. Embassy wants to stay in touch. Here are a few steps you can take to keep the channels of communication open:

  • Register with the U.S. Embassy: if you are active in Canada, let us know by sending an email to Bojan.Opsenica@trade.gov.
  • Add Commercial and Agricultural Specialists to your mailing lists. Country contacts in our Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary commercial offices are ready to help.
  • Subscribe to the U.S. Embassy’s Facebook page or Twitter feed.
  • Set up a meeting with our commercial or economic team to discuss any issues that arise.

3. Working in Canada

In this section, you will find information on business visas, travel advisories, and anti-corruption tools.

Business Visas

For information on obtaining a visa to visit Canada, visit the Visa section of our website.

Travel Advisories

Make sure to check the current State Department travel advisory for Canada.

FCPA

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is an important anti-corruption tool designed to discourage corrupt business practices in favor of free and fair markets. The FCPA prohibits promising, offering, giving, or authorizing giving anything of value to a foreign government official where the purpose is to obtain or retain business. These prohibitions apply to U.S. persons, both individuals and companies, and companies that are listed on U.S. exchanges. The statute also requires companies publicly traded in the United States to keep accurate books and records and implement appropriate internal controls.

More information on the FCPA: http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa/

A party to a transaction seeking to know whether a proposed course of conduct would violate the FCPA can take advantage of the opinion procedure established by the statute. Within 30 days of receiving a description of a proposed course of conduct in writing, the Attorney General will provide the party with a written opinion on whether the proposed conduct would violate the FCPA. Not only do opinions provide the requesting party with a rebuttable presumption that the conduct does not violate the FCPA, but DOJ publishes past opinions, which can guide other companies facing similar situations.

More information on the DOJ opinion procedure: https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/doj-sec-issue-fcpa-guidance

Quick Links

Canada Country Commercial Guide
Export Solutions
Virtual Services and Business Matching Services
Business Information Database System
Direct Line for American Business
US Small Business Administration
Department of Commerce
Export Import Bank of the United States
National IPR Center
Local Legal Resources
More Key Business Links

Footer Disclaimer

This is the official website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

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