TORONTO, Canada — Premier Doug Ford, Vic Fedeli, minister of economic development, job creation and trade, and Will Bouma, parliamentary assistant to the premier, hosted a roundtable discussion with 16 senior diplomatic representatives from across Europe, Asia and South America, to build on the province’s work to diversify trade relations and attract investment in response to US tariffs and economic uncertainty.
This work by the province to diversify its non-US trade has seen significant success, with Ontario’s non-US exports increasing by nearly 75 percent since 2018 and nearly 28 percent last year alone, compared to the previous year.
“Our government is delivering on our promise to protect Ontario workers by diversifying our trade and finding new markets for Ontario products around the globe,” said premier Ford. “We’ll keep building on the success we’ve seen over the past year, creating new trade links overseas, unlocking our critical minerals and other resources, and building the infrastructure that will get our products to new markets around the world, while keeping Ontario workers on the job.”
The roundtable included representatives from countries that have seen a significant expansion in two-way trade with Ontario over the past year, as well as several of the countries that the province is working closely with to increase investment and trade. The conversation will inform Ontario’s ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relationships, attract investment and build the partnerships needed to grow the province’s leadership in the global market, while diversifying its trade partners and reducing reliance on a single market.
Since 2018, Ontario has seen significant growth in two-way trade with jurisdictions across the world, including a 194 per cent increase in trade between Ontario and the United Kingdom, 207 percent with the United Arab Emirates, as well as 47 percent trade growth with Singapore and 42 percent with the Netherlands. From critical minerals and automotive parts to life-saving pharmaceuticals and world-class defence equipment, the global demand for Ontario-made goods continues to grow. In the coming months, the government will continue to build on this momentum through a series of targeted bilateral engagements and international trade missions.
By working with the federal government to fortify existing trade partnerships and establish new ones in the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and the MERCOSUR bloc, Ontario is adapting to current economic challenges and reducing its over-reliance on a single market. To ensure the province remains top of mind for investors and decision makers, the government has placed a renewed focus on business export and trade missions. In 2025 alone, Ontario led over 60 targeted export missions, helping to secure foreign direct investment (FDI), increase business exports and strengthen supply chains. Ontario is also investing nearly $100 billion in roads, highways and other transportation infrastructure to ensure manufacturers and businesses can access markets across Canada and around the world.
“In an increasingly uncertain world, our government is focusing on what we can control and taking decisive actions to see these changes through,” said Minister Fedeli. “By diversifying Ontario’s trade partnerships and ramping up exports to new markets across the world, we will continue securing job-creating investments for the economy and position our workforce to withstand external pressures.”
Through expanding the province’s opportunities in markets around the world and its national leadership on interprovincial trade, Ontario is laying a foundation for a resilient and competitive economy for generations to come. By reinforcing the province’s position as a reliable, trusted and innovative partner abroad, the government will continue to unlock new trade opportunities and grow its global economic footprint.
Quick facts
- Canada has a broad and growing global trade network, with 15 free trade agreements — including the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
- International business missions are helping Ontario companies grow in strategic sectors such as automotive, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, defence, clean technology and digital innovation, while attracting global investment and increasing demand for Ontario-made goods and services.
- Since 2018, Ontario has attracted over $222 billion in investment. Through targeted, results-driven missions, the government is continuing to help Ontario businesses secure new export opportunities, attract high-value FDI and build stronger supply chains across major global markets.
- Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade delivers a comprehensive suite of export supports through exporter preparation workshops, market education, one-on-one advisory services, B2B matchmaking and incoming buyer delegations to help Ontario companies become export-ready and succeed internationally.