New Service Helps Companies Quickly Resolve Urgent Export Issues
Article author: Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) / Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
Published: August 13, 2021
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by Global Affairs Canada, 2021.
Exporter Solutions is a new service from Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service that provides Canadian companies with personalized support to help resolve urgent export issues within one business day. This free service also offers access to self‑serve and find the relevant information, services and programs Canadian businesses may require to avoid potential problems by referring them to the right place to get the right help.
Export performance is critical to restarting Canada’s economy amidst the COVID‑19 pandemic. Now, companies can access urgent support to troubleshoot export‑related situations and avoid costly issues. Through access to expert insights, guidance, and contacts at home and abroad, they will be able to continue selling their goods and services to the world.
“Exporter Solutions is here to help businesses navigate urgent international business situations,” says Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. “As the world economy emerges from the pandemic, the TCS is in a privileged position to help Canadian businesses grow and succeed in international markets through its funding and support programs and an on‑the‑ground network in more than 160 cities worldwide.”
Canadian businesses have seen major disruptions to well‑established patterns of trade as a result of the COVID‑19 crisis, Ng comments. Firms looking to establish or re‑establish trade often fear going abroad because of the risks. Many don’t know where to start or where to turn for advice on issues such as economic volatility, political uncertainty and intellectual property rights. She says Exporter Solutions can help companies discover and mitigate potential mistakes, save time and money, find the right partner and de‑risk their efforts.
Through Exporter Solutions, Canada’s trade commissioners will work closely with companies to help them troubleshoot, providing free country-specific expert advice and connections with local contacts to work through export-related situations. Companies can also self‑serve by visiting the website to find information on avoiding common problems faced by exporters.
Trade commissioners can help assess the situation a business is facing and provide guidance. Depending on the issue, the TCS can connect the company with a local partner or expert to help resolve the problem. Some concerns may require more in‑depth involvement by the Government of Canada, such as engagement with foreign agencies to identify broader or longer‑term solutions.
According to a recent survey, businesses that used the TCS services in 2019‑2020 agreed that the advice they received helped them make more informed decisions:
to explore or expand operations abroad (83%)
find contacts who they would not have found otherwise (81%)
gain access to intelligence that would be difficult to obtain without the TCS (80%)
Also, 72% of the businesses surveyed agreed that the TCS helped them avoid delays and costly mistakes.