Export grants in Canada — see which you qualify for
Answer a few quick questions and watch the map narrow to the ones your exporter can actually get — free, no account.
Top Export Grant Programs
Jump directly to a program page for eligibility, funding details, and application guidance.
Export Funding at a Glance
Canada offers a comprehensive ecosystem of export support spanning non-repayable grants, commercial financing, and free advisory services. The cornerstone is the CanExport program family by Global Affairs Canada, providing up to $50,000 per project for market development activities. Export Development Canada (EDC) facilitated $135 billion in business in 2025 through credit insurance, loan guarantees, and direct financing, and served 27,800+ companies in 2024. The Trade Commissioner Service operates in 160+ cities worldwide, providing free market intelligence and buyer introductions. Sector-specific programs like Creative Export Canada (up to $2.5M) and the new AgriMarketing SME stream ($75M over 5 years at 70% cost-share) offer targeted support. Provincial programs add further layers: Ontario’s $50M Together Trade Fund, Quebec’s PSCE (up to $60K/year), and Alberta’s AEEP. Most critically, these programs can be stacked — but total government assistance cannot exceed 75% of project costs.
Key Facts: Export Grants in Canada
- CanExport SMEs provides up to $50,000 per project at 50% cost-share for 2026–27, with updated eligibility: 3+ FTEs and $300,000+ revenue. Its 2026–27 intake ended August 31, 2026
- EDC facilitated $135 billion in business in 2025, adding about $97 billion to GDP and supporting about 580,000 jobs (in 2024: $123.4 billion and 27,800+ companies)
- Creative Export Canada invested $64.6 million in 166 projects since 2018, with the Export-Ready Stream providing up to $2.5M per project
- The new AgriMarketing SME stream launched February 2026 with $75 million over 5 years at 70% AAFC cost-share
- The Trade Commissioner Service provides free export advisory through 160+ offices in international markets — no application required
- Ontario Together Trade Fund offers up to $5 million for businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs ($50M total program)
- EDC’s $5 billion Trade Impact Program launched March 2025 to support exporters facing U.S. tariff disruptions; by the end of 2025, about 800 companies had received $1.8 billion through it
- 75.9% of Canadian merchandise exports go to the U.S. — the government is aggressively funding market diversification beyond the U.S.
Major Changes Affecting Exporters
CanExport SMEs 2026–27: Maximum stays at $50,000 per project. Minimum eligibility raised to 3 full-time employees and $300,000 annual revenue. Per diem raised to $600 per traveller. The intake closed at noon ET on August 31, 2026. Virtual event participation no longer eligible. U.S. and non-U.S. projects must be separate applications. Program explicitly prioritizes non-U.S. market diversification.
AgriMarketing SME Stream (Feb 2026): Brand-new $75 million program for agriculture and agri-food SMEs, with 70% AAFC cost-share (vs. standard 50%). Projects under $100,000 targeting non-traditional markets get priority. Agriculture businesses are no longer eligible for CanExport — they use AgriMarketing instead.
EDC Trade Impact Program (March 2025): $5 billion over two years in additional financing and insurance capacity for companies affected by U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. Covers credit insurance, export guarantees, and direct financing for all company sizes.
Ontario Together Trade Fund ($50M): Up to $5 million per business for market diversification, capacity expansion, and reshoring. Open to Ontario businesses with 3+ years operations impacted by U.S. tariffs.
What Types of Export Funding Are Available in Canada?
Not all export support is created equal. Here is how the three main types work.
Free Money
No repayment required. CanExport SMEs, Creative Export Canada, AgriMarketing, and provincial programs provide grants that cover a percentage of your market development costs.
Commercial Products
EDC provides credit insurance, loan guarantees, and direct financing. You pay premiums or interest — these are commercial services, not grants. Much larger scale than grants.
Free Expert Guidance
The Trade Commissioner Service and provincial advisors (BC Export Navigator, Alberta TAP) provide free market intelligence, introductions, and export coaching at no cost.
Is CanExport open right now? Every CanExport stream, October 2026
CanExport is five programs, not one. Three of them fund a business directly, and the two that most exporters mean, SMEs and Innovation, are between intakes as of October 4, 2026.
| Stream | Who can apply | Money | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CanExport SMEs | Incorporated businesses, LLPs and co-ops with 3 to 500 full-time employees and $300,000 to $100 million in revenue. Agri-food, fish and seafood go to AgriMarketing instead. | $10,000 to $50,000, 50% of costs | Closed. The 2026–27 intake ended 12:00 p.m. ET, August 31, 2026; no next date posted.The main one for selling into a new market. Prepare now. |
| CanExport Innovation | SMEs, universities and research centres that own or co-own the IP, with a prototype at TRL 4 or higher, signing an R&D partnership abroad. | Up to $37,500, 75% of a $50,000 budget | Between intakes. Four openings a year; the September 1 window was open for 24 hours. Next dates not posted.For R&D partners, not for sales trips. |
| CanExport GAC-led delegations | SMEs accepted onto a trade mission or delegation led by Global Affairs Canada. | Up to 50% of travel and trade show costs | By mission. Each delegation has its own application period on the Trade Commissioner Service site.The CanExport money you can still reach this fall, if a mission fits your market. |
| CanExport Associations | National industry associations incorporated as not-for-profits. Not single businesses. | $20,000 to $500,000 a year, 50% (75% for defence and security) | Closed for 2026–27. The next round is scheduled for fall 2026, for projects from April 1, 2027.Ask your association whether it runs a funded mission. |
| CanExport Community Investments | Communities, municipal and local non-profit economic development organizations. | Up to $500,000, 60% of costs | Closed. The next call is expected in January 2027.Attracts foreign investment; it does not fund trade or export activity. |
Searching in French? CanExport SMEs is CanExport PME; the rules are the same.
What CanExport SMEs will and won’t pay for
The 2026–27 applicant guide lists eight cost categories: travel to meet buyers or attend events, trade event participation, adapting marketing tools for the target market, interpretation, contracts and certifications, business, tax and legal advice, market research and B2B facilitation, and IP protection. It lists advertising, website maintenance, employee salaries and virtual events as ineligible. A market qualifies as new if your sales there were under $100,000, or under 10% of your total sales, last year. A project can target the U.S. or other international markets, but not both.
What to do while CanExport SMEs is closed
- Check the GAC-led delegations list. If a mission goes to your market, it is the one CanExport door that opens through the year.
- Agri-food? AgriMarketing’s SME stream is open until September 30, 2030, at 70% of costs (details in the federal list below).
- Use your province. Saskatchewan, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Alberta reimburse trade show, travel or export consulting costs (see the provincial programs).
- Get the application ready. Pick the market, price each activity against the eight categories, and talk to a trade commissioner (free). Costs you incur before you submit are not eligible, so nothing you book now can be claimed later.
CanExport is one program. The questions at the top of this page check your business against the full catalogue, including provincial export grants and financing, in about a minute.
Answer the questions at the topWhat Federal Export Programs Are Available?
The core federal programs that fund and support Canadian international trade.
CanExport SMEs
Canada’s flagship export grant for small and medium-sized enterprises pursuing new international markets. CanExport SMEs covers 50% of eligible costs including trade show participation, market research, legal fees, translation, marketing materials adaptation, and business travel to target markets. For 2026–27, the program budget is approximately $31 million, with $3.1 million allocated for U.S. projects and the remainder for non-U.S. market diversification. Applications are assessed on a rolling competitive basis — not first-come, first-served — within a 60 business day assessment period (90 days for U.S. markets).
Key 2026–27 changes: Maximum stays at $50,000 per project ($10,000 minimum request). Minimum eligibility raised to 3 FTEs and $300,000 annual revenue. Virtual events no longer eligible. U.S. and non-U.S. must be separate applications. Agriculture and agri-food businesses are no longer eligible (directed to AgriMarketing instead).
CanExport Innovation
Helps Canadian innovators establish and formalize new collaborative R&D partnerships with foreign partners. Unlike CanExport SMEs (which funds market development), Innovation funds the partnership-building activities needed to launch international R&D collaborations — travel, meetings, and due diligence. Project budgets are capped at $50,000, and an organization can receive up to $100,000 within any 12-month period. The program runs four openings a year: the September 1, 2026 window was open for 24 hours, and the next dates have not been posted. Defence and dual-use projects are assessed first, then Indo-Pacific partnerships.
Creative Export Canada
Dedicated export funding for Canada’s creative industries, with an annual funding envelope of $14 million shared by two streams. The Export-Ready Stream supports companies with export-ready projects, funding up to $2.5 million per project with a minimum $150,000 project cost. The Export Development Stream targets new or early-stage exporters, providing up to $90,000 per year. Since 2018, Creative Export Canada has invested $64.6 million across 166 projects from 134+ companies.
Eligible sectors: Audiovisual (film, TV, animation), music, performing arts, publishing, visual art, artistic craft, design (exhibit, fashion, urban), and interactive digital media (when combined with another sector). Both 2026–27 intakes are closed; the next application period, for projects starting April 1, 2027, will be announced in fall 2026.
AgriMarketing Program
Canada’s dedicated export support for agriculture and agri-food businesses, now with two streams. The Industry Stream funds national associations with up to $2 million per year at 50% cost-share (70% for Indo-Pacific diversification). The brand-new Market Diversification SME Stream launched February 13, 2026 with $75 million over 5 years, providing individual agri-food SMEs with up to $100,000 per project at a generous 70% AAFC cost-share. Priority sectors include canola, pulses, pork, fish, and seafood — businesses directly impacted by tariffs.
Important: Agriculture, agri-food, fish, and seafood businesses are not eligible for CanExport SMEs. They use AgriMarketing instead. However, AgTech, food technology, and agricultural machinery companies remain CanExport-eligible.
Export Development Canada (EDC)
EDC is not a grant provider — it is a Crown corporation offering commercial financial products that help Canadian exporters manage international trade risk. EDC served 27,800+ companies in 2024, supporting 475,800+ Canadian jobs and $87 billion of GDP; in 2025 it facilitated $135 billion in business. Key products include:
Credit Insurance: Select Credit Insurance (occasional exports, invoices typically $5,000 to $500,000) and Portfolio Credit Insurance (active exporters, receivables typically $500,000 and up, paying up to 90% of an insured invoice). Protects against buyer non-payment, insolvency, and political risk. Export Guarantee Program: Guarantees up to US$25 million to your bank so they extend working capital. Trade Expansion Lending Program (TELP): EDC guarantees part of a loan or line of credit from your own bank; the bank sets the amount and timing. Buyer Financing: EDC finances your foreign buyer directly so you get paid upfront.
Trade Impact Program (2025): $5 billion in additional capacity for exporters facing U.S. tariff disruptions. Covers credit insurance, foreign exchange guarantees, and direct financing for companies of all sizes. By the end of 2025, about 800 companies had received $1.8 billion through it.
Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)
The Trade Commissioner Service is the Canadian government’s free export advisory network, operating in 160+ cities worldwide. Trade commissioners provide market intelligence, introductions to foreign buyers and partners, and guidance on exporting to specific countries. In 2023–24, TCS delivered 118 FTA promotion initiatives focused on CETA, CPTPP, and CUSMA. Eligibility requires a CRA business number, Canadian registration, and international business readiness. This should be your first stop as an exporter — Trade Commissioners also help identify which funding programs you qualify for.
Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA)
Operates in 12 global tech hubs, helping Canadian technology companies expand internationally through mentorship, workspace, and access to investors, customers, and partners. No cost to join. Specific programs include Cybersecurity and Enterprise AI cohorts. Competitive selection based on export readiness, scalability, and market fit for the target hub.
EDC vs. CanExport: Grants vs. Financing
One of the most common points of confusion. Here is when to use each.
When to Use Each
CanExport (Grant)
- You need help paying for market research and trade shows
- You are entering a new market where sales are under $100K
- You want non-repayable funding (free money)
- Scale: $10K–$50K per project
EDC (Financing)
- You need to protect receivables from foreign buyer non-payment
- You need working capital to fill large export orders
- You need bonds or guarantees for international contracts
- Scale: $250K to billions
They are complementary: Use CanExport to fund the market research and trade show costs to find a new buyer, then use EDC credit insurance to protect the receivables from that buyer, and use EDC’s Export Guarantee Program to access working capital to fill the order. EDC products do not count toward the 75% government stacking limit because they are commercial services, not grants.
How do I get export financing in Canada?
Grants pay for finding buyers. Once there is an order to fill, a machine to buy or a receivable to protect, the money is financing. Ten options, with what each is for.
A manufacturer with export orders it cannot fund: start with the EDC Export Guarantee Program or BDC Purchase Order Financing. A technology upgrade to serve export customers: BDC LIFT or the Canada Small Business Financing Program. A startup with its first export customer: Futurpreneur or a BDC start-up loan, because EDC direct lending asks for $10 million or more in annual revenue.
| Option | What it pays for | How much | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDC Export Guarantee Program | A guarantee to your bank so it lends you working capital for inventory and production tied to export contracts. You apply through the bank. | EDC guarantees up to US$25M | The usual answer when export orders outgrow your credit line. |
| BDC Purchase Order Financing | A loan against a confirmed customer order. | Up to 90% of the order value | Built for one large order you cannot fund up front. |
| EDC Trade Expansion Lending Program | EDC guarantees part of a loan or line of credit from your own bank for international growth. | No published cap; your bank sets it | Ask your bank first; it applies to EDC, not you. |
| EDC credit insurance | Pays out if a foreign buyer does not pay. Select covers occasional invoices; Portfolio covers ongoing receivables. | Select: invoices about $5,000 to $500,000. Portfolio: up to 90% of an insured invoice | Lets you offer payment terms abroad without betting the company on one buyer. |
| BDC LIFT | Loans for digital, AI and productivity technology, and advanced equipment. | $25,000 to $2M (digital and AI); $350,000 to $5M (equipment) | The closest fit for an export-related technology upgrade. |
| Canada Small Business Financing Program | Bank loans, partly guaranteed by Ottawa, for equipment, leaseholds and working capital. | Up to $1.15M ($1M term, $150K line) | For smaller equipment buys through your own bank. |
| Futurpreneur | Start-up loans and a mentor for founders aged 18 to 39. | Up to $75,000 | A realistic first loan for a young exporting business. |
| BDC Pivot to Grow | Loans for businesses changing course because of trade disruption. | Up to $5M (total BDC commitment over $350,000) | Repayable; for a real pivot away from U.S. exposure. |
| Regional Tariff Response Initiative | Liquidity and pivot projects for SMEs hit by U.S. tariffs, through the regional development agencies. | Up to $3M non-repayable ($2M liquidity, $1M pivot, each at 50%) | The one non-repayable option here, and only if tariffs hit you. |
| Provincial export loans | Investissement Québec Panorama (term loans to diversify away from the U.S.), Manitoba Trade Growth Investment Financing, Opportunities NB tariff working-capital loans. | $250,000 to $1M+ (QC); $250,000 to $5M (MB); up to $5M (NB) | Check your province before you settle for a bank’s first offer. |
EDC figures from edc.ca (financing, insurance and guarantee pages, 2025–2026); BDC, CSBFP, Futurpreneur, RTRI and provincial figures from our catalogue records, each checked against the funder in June to September 2026. None of these is a grant except the Regional Tariff Response Initiative.
A loan for the order and a grant for the trade show can sit side by side. The questions at the top of this page show both for your business.
Answer the questions at the topIn what order should you apply for export funding?
Four different routes, in the order that actually works.
Step 1, freeTrade Commissioner Service
Step 2, non-repayableCanExport SMEs
Step 3, once you have real export sales to protect or financeEDC financing and insurance
Step 4, if you're in an eligible region or sectorYour regional development agency
For financing comparisons once you have export revenue to work with, see our BDC guide and CSBFP guide; agriculture exporters should also see our farm financing guide for FCC and CALA-backed loans, and a first-time founder under 40 building the exporting business can compare Futurpreneur's startup financing. For the CanExport programme itself in more depth, see our CanExport guide.
First-Time Exporter vs. Experienced Exporter
Different programs for different stages of your export journey.
Recommended Program Path
Export Grant Stacking Strategies
How to combine multiple programs for maximum support. Total government assistance cannot exceed 75% of project costs.
CanExport + IRAP + Provincial Credits
CanExport funds market development (finding buyers); IRAP funds R&D (building the product). These are different activities on the same product, so they stack naturally. A tech company can use IRAP to fund development of a new product feature ($150K), then use CanExport to fund trade shows and market research in the UK ($40K). SR&ED explicitly excludes market research and sales promotion — the exact activities CanExport covers — so there is no overlap.
Provincial programs layer on top: Alberta AEEP covers trade event travel ($15K) while CanExport covers broader market development. Ontario OTTF ($5M) covers market diversification costs for tariff-impacted businesses. Quebec PSCE Volet 2 (up to $60K/year) covers export activities at 50% for a first project. All stack within the 75% federal limit.
EDC is always additive: Because EDC provides commercial services (insurance, financing), its products do not count toward the 75% government assistance cap. You can receive CanExport + provincial grants + EDC credit insurance and working capital simultaneously.
Two limits to plan around before you stack
Two grants on the same costs50% plus 50% is not 100%
Per project and per year$50,000 a project, $99,999 a year
What Provincial Export Programs Does Each Province Offer?
Province-specific funding that layers on top of federal programs.
Ontario
Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF): Up to $5M per business ($50M total program). For businesses with 3+ years operations, 5+ FTEs, impacted by U.S. tariffs (30%+ revenue loss or in targeted sectors). Covers market diversification, capacity expansion, reshoring, and equipment. Open since April 2025.
Ontario Creates Global Market Development: Up to $15,000 (50% of costs) for interactive digital media, book publishing, and film/TV businesses. Stacks with CanExport within 75% cap. Each sector has one round a year; the 2026–27 interactive, book and film/TV deadlines (April 27, May 1 and May 5, 2026) have passed.
Outside the cultural sectors, our catalogue lists no Ontario grant that reimburses a single business’s own trade show or travel costs. Ontario’s export money runs through the Together Trade Fund (tariff-hit firms), regional agencies, and the federal programs above; the province has announced a GoEU advisory program for exporters to Europe, with no application route published yet.
Quebec
Investissement Quebec PSCE: Three streams: strategic supply chains (Volet 1), diversification outside Quebec (Volet 2) and high-growth exporters selected by Investissement Québec International (Volet 3). Volet 2 pays up to $60,000/year: 50% of eligible costs for a first project, 40% for a second and 25% after that, with a $50,000 minimum budget for a first application. It opens in windows by destination market; the most recent (Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Oceania) closed October 1, 2026.
ORPEX Network: 21 regional export promotion organizations across Quebec providing export diagnostics, business plans, market studies, and buyer meetings. $15.8M over 2 years plus $2M/year to Investissement Quebec.
SODEXPORT: SODEC’s export program for Quebec cultural companies, with separate guidelines and caps for each sector (audiovisual, books, music, crafts and art).
Alberta
Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP): Up to $15,000/year for trade event travel. $400/day first traveler, $200/day second. Up to $1,000 event registration. Requires 1+ year Alberta incorporation, $250K–$25M annual sales, <500 FTEs. First-come, first-served until the $2M annual budget is used; Alberta lists the program as accepting applications.
Trade Accelerator Program (TAP): Free export strategy development program helping SMEs build actionable export plans with mentorship and resources.
British Columbia
Export Navigator: Free personalized export advisory and coaching, delivered through Community Futures BC. No cost to the business. $1.2M from PacifiCan for continued delivery.
CUSMA Compliance Advisory (CCASI): Up to $5,000 (50% of costs) for CUSMA compliance consulting. Its $900K budget was set to run until March 2026; confirm it is still taking applications before you plan on it.
BC Agriculture and Food Export Program: Producers and processors can get $5,000 up to the lesser of $50,000 a year or 30% of last year’s revenue, at 50% cost-share. One intake a year: the 2026 window closed February 13, 2026.
Trade Accelerator Program (TAP): Strategy, resources, and mentorship for SMEs to develop and activate export plans. Priority markets: Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan.
Atlantic Canada
ATIGS (Atlantic Trade Strategy): $20M over 5 years ($14M federal via ACOA + $6M from 4 provinces). Supports Atlantic firms in international business and FDI attraction. Contact ACOA at 1-888-576-4444.
Launch Export Atlantic Incubator: Estimated $15,000 worth of export training per company. 32 companies per cohort (8 per province). 7-month program covering business foundations, export readiness, and market entry strategy. Participants pay a $250 training fee. Applications for the 2026 cohort closed July 3, 2026.
Saskatchewan
STEP (Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership): five programs that reimburse 50% of costs. Market Diversification pays toward trade shows and market visits outside the U.S. (up to $6,000 to $10,000 a year by membership tier); Business Advisory Services and Product Modification/Certification each pay up to $5,000 a year toward consultants; two U.S. programs pay $500 to $6,000. Apply at least 45 days before a trade activity.
Manitoba
Export Development Program: reimburses 75% of trade show costs for exhibitors and 50% for attendees. Incoming Buyer Program: 50% of a foreign buyer’s airfare and hotel, up to $5,000 a visit. Both take 2026/27 applications. Trade Growth Investment Financing: repayable loans of $250,000 to $5 million.
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI
Export Funding NB: 65% of export consulting, digital marketing and market research costs, up to $15,000, continuous intake; get costs approved first. Invest Nova Scotia Export Development Program: 50% of trade show, research and branding costs, up to $15,000 a year (up to $25,000 for priority-sector companies), intake open until March 10, 2027 or until funds run out. PEI Export Trade Assistance: up to 40% of trade mission travel and up to 75% ($3,000) of an incoming buyer visit; PEI Export Enhancement and Diversification Fund: up to 60% of costs, to $32,000 per business, to reduce reliance on the U.S.
Which Program Should You Apply To?
Common Mistakes in Export Grant Applications
- Not meeting updated eligibility. CanExport 2026–27 raised minimums to 3 FTEs and $300,000 revenue. Applications that don’t meet these are automatically rejected without assessment.
- Including ineligible expenses. Employee salaries, capital assets, overhead, GST/HST, website maintenance, CRM subscriptions, advertising (except specified promotional materials), and consultant travel costs are all ineligible.
- Incurring costs before approval. The program does not cover costs incurred, invoiced, or paid before the date you submit your project. Submit before you book travel or sign contracts.
- Submitting virtual-only activities. For 2026–27, virtual event participation is no longer eligible. In-person activities only.
- Not disclosing all government funding. Must disclose ALL government sources (federal, provincial, municipal, Crown corporations). Failure to disclose can result in rejection, termination, and fund recovery.
- Targeting too many markets. Up to 5 markets allowed, but spreading thin without clear justification for each is a red flag. Focus on 1–2 priority markets with strong commercial rationale.
- Mixing U.S. and non-U.S. markets. For 2026–27, you cannot target both U.S. and other markets in a single application. Submit separately.
- Not stacking programs. Many exporters use CanExport alone when they could also benefit from provincial programs, IRAP (for the R&D), and EDC (for trade risk). A coordinated approach maximizes your total support.
How many Canadian export programs pay for trade shows and travel?
Twenty. We read every program in our catalogue tagged for exporting and sorted it by what it pays for.
| What it pays for | Programs | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Your own export market development, non-repayable | 20 | CanExport SMEs, AgriMarketing SME stream, STEP, PSCE, AEEP, Export Funding NB |
| The same, for creative companies or artists only | 8 | Creative Export Canada (two streams), Ontario Creates, Creative BC, touring grants |
| Help for businesses hit by U.S. tariffs | 9 | Regional Tariff Response Initiative (three agencies), Ontario Together Trade Fund, BDC Pivot to Grow |
| Export financing, guarantees or insurance | 8 | EDC guarantees and insurance, Investissement Québec Panorama, Manitoba TGIF |
| Free or subsidised services and missions (no cash) | 8 | Trade Commissioner Service, Canadian Technology Accelerators, Launch Export, MEDP |
| Associations or communities only | 6 | CanExport Associations, AgriMarketing core and industry-association streams |
| Exporting is incidental | 58 | Regional growth loans, R&D funds, tourism and food-safety programs |
Where the 20 are. Five are federal: CanExport SMEs and CanExport Innovation (both between intakes), and AgriMarketing’s SME stream (open to 2030), CanExport GAC-led delegations and the Innovation Partnership Program (both open mission by mission). Fifteen are provincial: five in Saskatchewan, two each in Quebec, Manitoba and PEI, and one each in Alberta, BC (between intakes), New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Our catalogue lists none for a general business in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador or the territories; businesses there rely on the federal programs and, if tariffs hit them, the tariff programs.
Three in four of the programs that pay cash are non-repayable. Of the 45 programs above that pay money to a business, 33 are grants; the other 12 are loans, guarantees or insurance, mostly from EDC and provincial lenders.
Method: programs in the GrantCompass catalogue whose purposes include export trade or export market expansion, excluding closed and discontinued records, labelled by hand from each record’s summary and amount on October 4, 2026. Umbrella records that repeat their own streams are counted once. A tag is our judgement, not the funder’s, and a program we have not catalogued cannot appear here.
Twenty programs fit most exporters; which ones fit you depends on your province, sector and size. The questions at the top of this page sort that out.
Answer the questions at the topHow to Apply: Step by Step
Assess Your Export Readiness
Contact the Trade Commissioner Service for a free export readiness assessment. Determine your target markets, export capacity, and whether you need grants (market development), financing (risk mitigation), or advisory services. Use TCS’s Export Readiness Assessment Tool (ERAT) to self-assess. Key questions: Do you have senior management commitment? Can you handle increased production? Do you have a competitive advantage vs. local competitors in the target market?
Prepare Your Market Development Plan
Identify 1–5 target markets where your sales were under $100,000 last year (or under 10% of total sales). Prepare SWOT analysis, competitive positioning, and entry strategy for each market. Build a budget with line-item justification tied to CanExport’s eligible expense categories (A through H). Include realistic sales projections that justify the investment — evaluators want to see a credible path to break-even within the first year.
Apply to Federal and Provincial Programs
Submit CanExport SMEs online through the TCS portal before incurring costs (retroactive expenses are ineligible). Assessment takes 60 business days. Simultaneously explore provincial programs — Alberta AEEP is first-come first-served, Ontario OTTF (for tariff-hit firms) has continuous intake, Quebec PSCE requires Investissement Quebec application. The 2026–27 CanExport SMEs intake ended August 31, 2026.
Stack Programs and Protect Your Trade
Layer EDC credit insurance to protect receivables once you have foreign buyers (up to 90% coverage, any exporter size). Use the Export Guarantee Program for working capital from your bank. Apply for additional CanExport projects as you expand to new markets. Total government assistance across all grant programs cannot exceed 75% — but EDC insurance/financing does not count toward this cap.
Program Comparison Table
Side-by-side comparison of major export funding programs.
| Program | Max Amount | Type | Best For | Cost-Share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CanExport SMEs | $50,000 | Grant | Market development | 50/50 | Closed Aug 31, 2026 |
| CanExport Innovation | $37,500 | Grant | R&D partnerships | 75/25 | Between intakes |
| Creative Export (ERS) | $2.5M | Grant | Creative industries | 75/25 | Next intake fall 2026 |
| Creative Export (EDS) | $90K/year | Grant | New creative exporters | 75/25 | Next intake fall 2026 |
| AgriMarketing (SME) | <$100K | Grant | Agri-food exporters | 70/30 | Open (new) |
| AgriMarketing (Industry) | $2M/year | Grant | Agri associations | 50/50 | Contact first |
| EDC Credit Insurance | 90% coverage | Insurance | A/R protection | Premium-based | Always open |
| EDC TELP | Set by your bank | Guarantee | Working capital | Fee-based | Always open |
| Ontario OTTF | $5M | Grant/Loan | Tariff-impacted ON | Varies | Open |
| Quebec PSCE | $60K/year | Grant | QC exporters | 50/50 | Windows by market |
| Alberta AEEP | $15K/year | Grant | Trade event travel | ~25/75 | Open |
| Innovation Partnership Program | 50% of trip costs | Grant | R&D delegations abroad | 50/50 | Calls by mission |
Who has received CanExport SMEs grants?
The federal government publishes its grant agreements over $25,000, and some departments list smaller ones too. We counted the CanExport SMEs ones.
| Province | Agreements | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec | 1,943 | $48.9M |
| Ontario | 1,758 | $41.7M |
| British Columbia | 874 | $19.8M |
| Alberta | 424 | $10.0M |
| Nova Scotia | 106 | $2.4M |
| Manitoba | 103 | $2.4M |
| Saskatchewan | 63 | $1.4M |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 41 | $1.1M |
| New Brunswick | 34 | $0.8M |
| PEI | 22 | $0.6M |
| Yukon and NWT | 14 | $0.2M |
Quebec businesses signed more CanExport SMEs agreements than Ontario’s: 1,943 (36%) against 1,758 (33%).
Manufacturers lead. 1,762 agreements (33%) went to manufacturers, 1,046 (19%) to professional, scientific and technical services, and 675 (13%) to software publishers and data or online services; 1,019 carry no industry code.
The cap has been $50,000 for four years. No agreement since April 2022 exceeds $50,000; the last larger ones started in 2021–22. Agreements per year held steady (1,511, 1,528 and 1,506 in the last three fiscal years), and the 837 that started between April and mid-June 2026 have a higher median, $28,000.
Source: Proactive Disclosure of Grants and Contributions, open.canada.ca, fetched October 4, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada). Scope: CanExport SMEs agreements delivered by the National Research Council with for-profit recipients; amendments collapsed to one row per agreement (109 amendment rows removed). What it cannot show: rejected applications, so no approval rate; how much was paid out (an agreement value is the approved maximum); and agreements signed after mid-June 2026, which have not been published yet. Industry is the recipient’s NAICS code where one was filed.
About 1,500 businesses a year sign a CanExport SMEs agreement. Find out which export programs your business can get, before the next intake opens.
Answer the questions at the topFrequently Asked Questions
Answers based on verified government program documentation.
What export grants are available for Canadian businesses in 2026?
What changed with CanExport SMEs for 2026–2027?
What is the difference between EDC and CanExport?
Can I combine CanExport with other government programs?
How do I apply for CanExport SMEs?
Are there export programs for creative industries?
What provincial export programs are available?
How much trade did EDC facilitate in 2024?
How much did Canada export in merchandise in 2024?
What are the most common mistakes in export grant applications?
How can I apply for export funding from the Canadian government?
Does Export Development Canada (EDC) give grants?
How Much Do Canadian Businesses Export?
Key figures from EDC, Statistics Canada, and Global Affairs Canada
“During an uncertain economic environment, we strategically deployed capital and took on risk to help more Canadian companies reach global markets. We’re motivated by findings that Canadian companies supported by EDC generate 23% more revenues, employ 16% more workers and are 6% more productive.”
— Scott Moore, Executive Vice-President & CFO, Export Development Canada, EDC 2024 Integrated Annual Report
Sources & Official References
- EDC 2024 Integrated Annual Report — Export Development Canada
- Canadian International Merchandise Trade, December 2024 — Statistics Canada
- Canada’s Merchandise Trade Performance 2024 — Global Affairs Canada
- CanExport SMEs Program — Trade Commissioner Service
- Trade Commissioner Service — 161 cities, 1,000+ professionals worldwide
- Creative Export Canada — Canadian Heritage
- CanExport SMEs applicant guide 2026–27 and CanExport Innovation, Associations, Community Investments, Trade Commissioner Service, checked October 4, 2026
- 2026 annual public meeting message (2025 results), Export Development Canada
- PSCE Volet 2, Investissement Québec
- Proactive Disclosure of Grants and Contributions, Government of Canada (CanExport SMEs agreements)
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