International Profile

• Introduction
• By International Organizations
• By Industry Canada Sectors

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Introduction

Industry Canada helps Canadian business to compete and succeed internationally based on its mandate and legislative responsibilities. It also works closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) to encourage foreign companies to invest in Canada.

Industry Canada is active internationally for three reasons:

• International Treaties
  Industry Canada responsibilities, including spectrum management, weights and measures, competition law and intellectual property law, drive the success of Canadian business abroad. International treaties governing these areas are under constant modification as international business and economic conditions develop. As a result, these treaties require continual monitoring and active participation at international meetings by Industry Canada, often in cooperation with DFAIT, and other government departments.
• Policy Development
  Industry Canada contributes best practices in international policy development to improve market access for Canadian firms internationally. The Department also benefits from sharing ideas in these international forums that result in better policy development in Canada.
  
  The primary policy forums in which the Department participates, include:
  
  
  • Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
  • International Competition Network
  • International Telecommunication Union
  • North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  • United Nations
  • World Intellectual Property Organization
  • World Trade Organization
• Technical Assistance and Standards Setting
  Industry Canada passes on its technical expertise to developing countries, often in cooperation with the Canadian International Development Agency and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group.
  
  The Department participates in standards-setting forums, such as the International Organization for Standardization, to ensure that Canada's standards are compatible with those of other countries and, where desirable, to promote international compatibility and harmonization of standards. Standards-setting in radiocommunications for North America, for example, helps Canadian firms develop products and services that can be marketed throughout NAFTA.
  
  Industry Canada's Spectrum, Information Technologies and Telecommunications Sector (SITT) is a recognized expert that provides bilateral assistance in regulatory matters and on development issues. SITT offers Canadian leadership and expertise in several G-8 legacy projects and in global development initiatives, such as World Summit on the Information Society and other UN initiatives.

For more information about our activities, you can browse by International Organizations, or by Industry Canada Sectors. You may also wish to consult Industry Canada's plans and priorities.