Make the world your workplace:
What is a trade commissioner?
The Trade Commissioner Service, a major component of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, provides advice to Canadian clients on doing business through a complex and rapidly changing global marketplace.
The Trade Commissioner Service is a dynamic network of international business development and trade policy professionals, numbering approximately 1000 and located across Canada and in 150 locations around the world.
The Trade Commissioner Service contributes to Canadian prosperity by:
- Advancing Canadian trade and economic interests around the world;
- Increasing Canada's global competitiveness;
- Promoting the export of Canadian goods and services in foreign markets;
- Negotiating and administering trade agreements;
- Attracting foreign investment into Canada, and facilitating strategic Canadian investment abroad; and
- Promoting the capacity of Canada's science and technology sector.
What are the attributes of a trade commissioner?
Trade commissioners are first and foremost relationship builders. A trade commissioner must be able to adapt to ever-changing cultural, economic and technological environments. He or she must also be client service oriented, a self-starter, and demonstrate the initiative to seek out new contacts as well as market and sector intelligence.
What do trade commissioners do?
Throughout his or her career, a rotational trade commissioner works predominantly in a variety of assignments at Headquarters in Ottawa and at Canadian embassies and consulates around the world, as well as possibly at one of the regional offices in Canada. The rotational nature of a trade commissioner's career means that they alternate between assignments in Canada and ones abroad. In their work and throughout their careers, trade commissioners regularly see their efforts, big and small, contribute to Canada economic development and the success of Canadians expanding their business in a global commerce environment. Trade commissioners at regional offices, in Headquarters and abroad, work closely together in providing professional, high-quality, value-added service to Canadian clients.
Working at Headquarters
Located in Ottawa on stately Sussex Drive, just a stone's throw from the Prime Minister's and Governor General's residences, the Headquarters building is the hub of the world-wide network of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.
Headquarters is a trade commissioner's initial training ground. The first two or three years of a rotational trade commissioner's career are spent at Headquarters, where he or she will develop the skills and expertise necessary to work with Canadian business at trade offices around the world. Some of the issues handled at Headquarters include:
- Advocating Canadian interests with regard to trade agreements;
- Resolving trade disputes between Canada and other nations;
- Co-ordinating science and technology exchanges;
- Coordinating high level trade missions;
- Advising Canadian exporters;
- Promoting, expanding, and retaining foreign direct investment into Canada; and
- Liaising and consulting with Canadian industry.
Trade commissioners at Headquarters also provide vital support to our overseas posts. From Ottawa, they assist their colleagues abroad with communications, marketing and operations.
Working at a Regional Office
Trade commissioners, located in 12 regional offices across the country, establish connections and working relationships with a diverse, and growing, number of Canadian clients, industry associations and partners to deliver on international business development critical to Canadian economic growth and prosperity. Trade commissioners working in Canada focus on networking, building sectoral strategies, facilitating introductions and understanding international business strategies from a grass roots and community perspective.
A trade commissioner in Canada can expect to work face-to-face with clients in a fast-paced environment. Regional offices play a valuable role in responding to industry. Working closely with colleagues at posts around the globe and at Headquarters in Ottawa, trade commissioners will:
- Attend trade shows and conferences to develop expertise and identify industry trends;
- Co-host missions from abroad;
- Gather, analyze, and provide clients with foreign market information;
- Provide one-on-one export advice to Canadian clients;
- Act as a sounding board for companies as they develop their export plans;
- Build a network of contacts that allows you to identify leading Canadian products, technology and sources of innovation.
Working Abroad
Trade commissioners working abroad are located in 150 Canadian embassies and trade offices around the world.
Trade commissioners abroad are the nexus for gathering the crucial on-the-ground market intelligence that makes the difference between a client's success or failure.
Working with their regional office colleagues and other partner organizations, trade commissioners connect Canadian business to foreign market opportunities. They also help Canadian clients navigate the intricate junctions of business and culture abroad. They know what is happening in the local business community and know the key players. They build relationships between Canadian business and potential foreign partners.
The day-to-day work of a trade commissioner abroad is diverse and challenging.
One day a trade commissioner may be identifying potential investors for new investment into Canada; the next day, he or she may be gathering valuable intelligence that will allow Canadian firms to remain one step ahead of foreign competition. Yet another day may find him or her briefing a Canadian company, advocating Canada's position on trade subsidies at the WTO, and networking with political and business leaders.
Trade commissioners are advocates, promoters, strategists and alliance builders.
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