The Business Beyond Borders series is built on real conversations — with Canadian businesses who’ve expanded globally and RBC Trade Specialists who’ve guided them through it. You’ll see how companies navigated market selection, structured their financing, negotiated payment terms and built the capacity to grow — and what they learned about early planning, trusted partnerships and taking action at the right moment. If you’re considering going global, these insights can help you make informed decisions and move forward with confidence.
For Canadian companies looking to expand internationally, this feels like a moment worth paying attention to.
A number of factors are coming together right now – greater access to global markets, stronger support for exporters and a growing push to diversify exports beyond the United States. More businesses are starting to ask the same question: What could this look like for us?
Indeed, recent data from the Bank of Canada suggests that sentiment among Canadian businesses is beginning to shift, with more companies expecting sales to improve and a growing number looking beyond neighbouring markets for growth.
“International diversification is the number one priority for many of our clients in 2026,” says Deepthika Gooneratne, Director, Trade Finance Solutions, with RBC. “Opportunities are everywhere. But opportunity alone does not guarantee success. The companies that succeed internationally aren’t necessarily the fastest movers – they’re the ones that expand strategically, engage the right partners early and follow the right sequence of decisions.”
Expansion doesn’t happen all at once. It unfolds in stages – and how you approach each one can influence everything from your risk exposure to your ability to grow over time.
This perspective is drawn from those who have been there – Canadian companies at various stages of expansion and the RBC International Trade Specialists who work alongside them every day, providing the insight, guidance and connections to help drive success on the global stage.
Three tailwinds driving international opportunity for Canadian businesses
A few important shifts are making it easier for Canadian businesses to look beyond national borders and take concrete steps toward global growth.
Free trade agreements are improving access to global markets
Over the past decade, Canada has built one of the most extensive trade networks in the world, with 15 free trade agreements covering 51 countries and nearly one billion consumers. What’s changing now is how those agreements are being used. Historically, many Canadian companies have relied primarily on the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), given its proximity and familiarity.
In 2026, more businesses are starting to look beyond North America, actively exploring other agreements such as the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as part of their international growth strategy.
Here’s a closer look at these two key agreements:
-
The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has opened access to a market of more than 450 million consumers. Under the agreement, 99% of Canadian goods can enter the EU duty-free, replacing tariffs that once reached as high as 25% on some products. [BDC]
-
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) connects Canada with 11 economies across the Asia-Pacific region, representing more than 495 million customers and roughly 15% of global GDP. [EDC]
For Canadian exporters, this can translate into lower costs, more predictable trade processes and easier access to faster-growing international markets.
5 min read: Trade Zone: The CUSMA review—hopes, anxieties and paradoxes – RBC
| Canada’s Free Trade Agreement Opportunity | ||
|---|---|---|
| 15 free trade agreements | 51 countries | 1 billion+ consumers |
Support for exporters is more accessible – and more coordinated
Alongside expanded market access, there is also a stronger support system in place than many businesses may realize.
Export Development Canada (EDC) offers a range of financial tools – from trade credit insurance to working capital guarantees – designed to help Canadian businesses manage risk when expanding internationally. And programs such as CanExport can provide funding support up to $50,000 to help eligible companies explore and enter new markets.
Meanwhile, the Trade Commissioner Service provides on-the-ground support through a global network spanning more than 160 cities, including market insight, introductions, trade missions and support at international events.
Taken together, these resources can help reduce both the financial risk and complexity that often come with international expansion.
RBC also plays a key role in supporting Canadian businesses as they expand globally. In addition to advisory services from International Trade Specialists, RBC offers working capital and trade finance solutions designed to help companies manage risk while optimizing cash flow. Beyond banking, platforms like RBC Global Connect provide a centralized hub of insights, market intelligence and connections to vetted international counterparties, helping businesses move from exploration to execution with greater confidence.
And support is continuing to evolve, as Gooneratne notes:
“We’re seeing forecasts and new loan products coming down by the end of 2026, specifically designed for international expansion. The financial infrastructure to support global growth is being built right now. The question is whether Canadian companies will seize this moment.” [RBC Main Brief]
3 min read: Trade Zone: The Carney Doctrine–a capital-first strategy – RBC
Diversification has become a strategic priority
At the same time, many Canadian companies are rethinking their historic reliance on the United States. Roughly 70 per cent of Canadian exports still flow to the U.S. – though that share has declined compared to a year ago. While that relationship remains critically important, shifting trade dynamics and policy uncertainty are prompting businesses to explore a broader range of markets.
For many companies, diversification is becoming less about expansion for its own sake and more about building resilience over the long term. As a result, a growing number of Canadian businesses are exploring international expansion for the first time – or accelerating plans that once felt further out.
Where the Canadian advantage is strongest for businesses looking to go global
While there are opportunities across a wide range of sectors and markets, some areas stand out – where Canadian strengths align particularly well with global demand and existing trade relationships.
These examples offer a helpful starting point for where Canadian companies are already gaining traction internationally.
Agriculture and food production remain one of Canada’s strongest global advantages. Canadian products are widely recognized for their quality and safety, supported by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) certification.
As food security becomes a growing priority worldwide, demand for Canadian agricultural products and ag-tech innovation continues to grow across Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East.
Clean technology is another area where Canadian companies are well-positioned. The global push for sustainability, combined with Canada’s leadership in green innovation, is creating new opportunities for exporters offering solutions in energy efficiency, emissions reduction and environmental technology.
Advanced manufacturing also presents significant potential. Ongoing investment in Industry 4.0 technologies and smart manufacturing is strengthening Canada’s reputation for quality and precision – qualities that matter in markets where trust and consistency are key
Alongside these sector strengths, certain markets stand out as particularly promising.
Europe remains a natural destination for Canadian exporters thanks to CETA, which has eliminated most tariff barriers and simplified the path to their markets.
Japan, known for itssophisticated market and high-quality standards, continues to value Canadian products and expertise.
And Australia offers what RBC International Trade Specialists sometimes describe asa “triple opportunity” market: a similar business culture, shared language and strong trade agreement access.
If you’re exploring international expansion, these examples offer a sense of where Canadian strengths are already translating into real opportunities.
But identifying where to go is only part of the process. The businesses that tend to move forward most effectively are the ones that start preparing early – before entering a new market.
A 3-step blueprint to go global: The sequence behind successful international expansion
International expansion rarely comes down to a single decision. More often, it plays out through a series of choices – each one building on the last.
RBC International Trade Specialists consistently offer the same insight around this process: timing matters. When you bring in the right support early – while you’re still exploring options – you have more flexibility to define how your expansion will take shape.
Why? Because at this stage, you can work with advisors to identify funding opportunities, assess financing needs, think through risks and connect you with organizations like Export Development Canada and the Trade Commissioner Service.
Once a deal is signed, however, those options tend to narrow. Payment terms are already set, funding windows may have closed and deal structures may have been negotiated without support from available resources.
Here are three stages that tend to shape successful expansion.
Stage 1: Laying the foundation. Are you ready to take your business global?
Preparation may be the least visible part of global expansion, but it often has the biggest impact on your company’s ability to succeed overseas.
“Much of the real work in international expansion happens before a company ever signs its first contract,” says Nancy Halabi, Senior Trade Finance Specialist with RBC. “Companies that invest time in preparation – validating markets, assessing financial capacity and structuring their approach – are far better positioned to succeed.”
At this stage, the focus is on understanding how ready your company is to expand. That often means stepping back and asking a few important questions:
-
Have you validated the market opportunity using reliable, up-to-date information?
-
Do you have the operational capacity to manage international logistics and regulatory requirements?
-
Are you financially prepared to support the expansion?
Where preparation often falls short
Many of the challenges that appear later don’t come from choosing the wrong market, but from areas that weren’t fully thought through early on.
-
Costs can be underestimated. Regulatory compliance, product adaptation, logistics and market-entry expenses can add up quickly and strain your resources if they’re not fully understood.
-
Financial readiness is essential. Expanding internationally often means longer payment cycles, more inventory tied up in transit and higher upfront costs. Making sure you have the working capital to support these changes can make a meaningful difference in your ability to seize opportunities.
-
Timing is a crucial factor. Engaging with an RBC International Trade Specialist early in the process can help identify these potential blind spots and think through your options – whether that involves exploring government grants, evaluating financing options or connecting with the right networks.
Learn more about building a strong foundation for international expansion: The Preparation Advantage: 5 Things to Consider Before Taking Your Business Global.
Vive Crop Protection: What early preparation can look like in practice.
Vive Crop Protection is an agricultural technology company focused on improving how crop protection products work for farmers. While headquartered in Canada, Vive initially launched in the U.S., where regulatory conditions offered a more straightforward path to market. Today, their expansion efforts are focused on Canada.
About six months before making a formal move, the company began working with RBC and Export Development Canada. Together, they mapped the regulatory timeline, explored available funding and structured financing to support what they knew would be a longer approval process.
“Evolution is necessary, but distraction is optional,” says Jeff Lacrooy, Senior VP of Finance, Vive Crop Protection. “We’re very intentional about defining our sandbox and determining what’s in and what’s out.”
That discipline – of planning strategically rather than reacting in the moment – has helped them gain traction in Canada while maintaining focus on their core U.S. operations and managing cash flow along the way.
Read the full Vive Crop Protection story, including how they structured financing, accessed government support and navigated the realities of agricultural technology’s long sales cycles.
Stage 2: Executing your entry plan
Once you move into a new market, your focus shifts from preparing to executing. At this point, decisions are made in real time and start to take shape in contracts, pricing and deal structure.
This is also where many of your earlier assumptions are tested. Costs are more defined, responsibilities are allocated and key terms – such as payment structure, risk ownership and delivery timelines – are negotiated and finalized.
Support can have a direct and immediate impact during this phase. How you integrate that support – whether through funding, financing or advisory input – can influence how effectively new deals are structured.
See how execution decisions play out in market: Before you Sign Anything: 6 International Market Entry Strategies Every Canadian Business Needs to Know
East Mountain Forest Products: Making informed execution decisions can shape how an expansion unfolds.
East Mountain Forest has built its business around a network of trusted partners across regions, allowing it to adapt quickly as market conditions change. That flexibility has become a key part of how the company operates internationally.
“In our industry, trust carries real weight,” says Phil Hsieh, Co-Founder of East Mountain Forest. “When you’ve built that over time, it gives you flexibility – you can structure deals in a way that works for both sides.”
East Mountain’s approach is reflected directly in how they structure transactions – whether it’s aligning payment terms, managing risk across counterparties or adjusting sourcing and distribution as the trade environment evolves.
Read the full East Mountain Forest story, including how they built trusted international partnerships, managed risk across markets and adapted their approach to meet evolving conditions.
Stage 3: Expanding strategically across multiple markets
Once you’ve established a foothold in one market, the focus shifts again – this time toward expanding into additional markets in a way that is deliberate and sustainable.
At this stage, you’ll be looking to build on what’s already working and being selective about where and how you grow next.
That often means taking a measured approach – testing new markets, building relationships, validating demand and only committing once there’s clear traction. Decisions around capital allocation, supply chain structure and local partnerships become more important as complexity increases.
Scaling across markets also places greater demand on your business. You may need more working capital to support long cycles, your operations become more complex and maintaining consistency across markets takes more coordination.
What tends to make the difference at this stage is discipline. Businesses that scale effectively are often the ones that expand with intention – prioritizing the right opportunities, maintaining focus and building the infrastructure needed to support growth over time.
Discover how successful companies scale internationally in Scaling Your Success: 5 Strategic Disciplines for Canadian Businesses Sustaining International Growth
OSI Maritime Systems: a case study in disciplined scaling
For roughly two decades, the company focused almost entirely on the Canadian market, serving commercial shipping operators and helping them transition from paper-based to electronic chart navigation. Today, the company provides naval navigation and tactical technology to 27 navies across Europe, Asia-Pacific and beyond.
The growth has been methodical. OSI doesn’t open offices speculatively. They test the waters, build relationships, win contracts—and only then commit to local presence.
“The UK was the first step into international markets,” says OSI CEO Jim Girard. “The Royal Navy were thought leaders in electronic navigation, and they liked what we were doing.” OSI’s first step in any new market is always the same: engage the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service. Trade Commissioners provide on-the-ground intelligence, facilitate introductions at the right levels of foreign governments and help vet potential local agents and partners. That disciplined approach to market entry—test, prove, then invest—has enabled OSI to scale from a Canadian startup to a global provider without overextending or diluting their focus.
Read the complete OSI Maritime story – including how they expanded across 27 navies, the role of Trade Commissioners in every market entry and the specific decisions that led to sustainable scaling.
Seizing the moment for international trade
The combination of new free trade agreements, strong export support and a growing push to diversify beyond the United States is creating a rare window of opportunity for Canadian businesses looking abroad – one that may not stay open forever.
Seizing this opportunity requires ambition and foresight – but success depends on how you approach it. Companies that succeed internationally tend to move deliberately, building a strong foundation, structuring their entry and expansion carefully and engaging advisors early in the process.
Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. A wide range of tools, programs and expert guidance is available to help you assess opportunities, manage risk and set up your expansion for long-term success.
How RBC International Trade Specialists help Canadian companies expand successfully
Expanding into new markets comes with a lot of moving parts. Having the right support can make it easier to see where you’re going, how you’ll get there and the steps you need to take along the way.
RBC International Trade Specialists work alongside you to help you organize your company’s approach, drawing on experience across industries, markets and deal types.
What makes our team different:
-
Practical expertise grounded in real experience
You’re not getting generic advice. Trade Specialists work with businesses navigating international expansion every day, giving companies a clear view of what tends to work and where challenges often surface. They help you think through key decisions, identify risks early and structure your approach in a way that supports your goals.
-
Connections that open doors
Through relationships with organizations like Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Trade Commissioner Service – as well as tools like RBC Global Connect – you gain access to a broader network of partners, insights and in-market support. These connections can help you expand with confidence.
-
The right tools and resources – when you need them
From financing structures and trade instruments to foreign exchange support, you have access to a range of tools designed to support international growth. The focus isn’t on selling products – it’s on helping you choose the right approach for your situation.
The opportunity is there. What matters now is how you choose to act on it.
Contributors
This series is informed by RBC International Trade Specialists who work directly with Canadian businesses expanding internationally:
<strong>Deepthika Gooneratne</strong>
Director, Trade Finance Solutions
<strong>Nancy Halabi</strong>
Senior Trade Finance Specialist
Your Business Is Going Places. Where To Next?
Whether you’re thinking about going global or have already started to trade internationally, RBC Trade Specialists can help you make informed decisions as you expand into new markets.
Connect with an RBC Trade Specialist or contact your RBC Relationship Manager.
Visit the RBC International Trade site for market intelligence, resources and tools to help you grow internationally.
This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.
