Doing business in the United States

The U.S. is an attractive market for Canadian businesses due to its proximity and significance as a trading partner. This benefits nearly every industry.

Select USA, part of the U.S. International Trade Administration, provides web resources for foreign companies looking to invest:

• Industry Overview Hub: Offers an overview of priority industries for attracting foreign direct investment
• State Business Incentives Database: Provides info on incentive programs in every state

Many state and local economic development agencies also compile similar data for their own regions.

Find state and local economic development agencies who compile similar data for their own regions.

Canada and the U.S. have the world’s largest trade partnership with tightly linked economies. USD 2.5 billion in goods and services cross the border each day. This supports millions of jobs and drives innovations that boost competitiveness across Canada and the U.S.

In 2023, Canada-U.S. trade reached almost USD 1 trillion per year, including USD 73 billion in agricultural trade. Canada was the top export market for 36 U.S. states, while 77% of Canadian exports went to the U.S. Canadian goods exports totaled CAD 592.8 billion and services exports reached CAD 104.6 billion.

Resources for policy and statistical info:

• The U.S. Census Bureau
• The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis
• The National Association of Counties NACo County Explorer
• The Congressional Research Service

Canada and the U.S. are parties to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Find out how your business can benefit from opportunities through this free trade agreement:

• Doing business in North America
• CUSMA benefits for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

• Search for all types of trade and investment agreements.
• Read an overview of Canada’s diplomatic, economic and cultural relationship with the United States.