The future of agriculture is focused on creating food for a growing global population with fewer resources, a lower carbon footprint, and less physical labour. What does this future look like? It will be a thriving agritech industry filled with innovation such as mushroom-picking robots and QR codes showing the origins of the steak on a dinner plate.   British Columbia (B.C.) has a world class reputation for quality agriculture and seafood products, and it is a natural fit that agritech is an emerging industry in the province. Farming and fishing have been an integral part of B.C.’s economy, and technology has propell... continue reading

Not only is the European Union (EU) the second-largest economy in the world, it also contains a population of roughly 450 million consumers. An economy of this magnitude presents British Columbia (B.C.) companies with immense international business opportunities, but did you know that there are ways to make your B.C. business even more competitive when engaging with the European market? The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the EU allows your B.C. business to gain preferential market access to the European market. This agreement gives B.C. businesses a competitive edge over international compet... continue reading

Have you ever considered the benefits of expanding your business and reaching customers within international markets? Did you know that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) could help your B.C. business access international markets with over 460 million potential purchasing customers? These are questions worth asking, and we are here to help your business take full advantage of Canada’s trade agreements and export opportunities. British Columbia’s Pacific Coast location presents easy global access and opportunities to connect your business to the Asia-Pacific markets. Brit... continue reading

  True or False? It’s the importing country’s responsibility to identify preferential tariff treatment for B.C. exporters False! Canada’s free trade agreements (FTA) offer British Columbia businesses preferential tariff reductions in international markets. But, did you know the importing country does not automatically apply those preferential treatments to your goods at the border? You need to claim those benefits by referencing the preferential origin of your product that allows you to claim the preferential tariff. Let’s break it down:   Suppose an experienced exporter or a new to expo... continue reading

International trade and investment are an essential source of economic growth and opportunity for British Columbia. In 2020, B.C. exported nearly $40 billion in goods to other countries. Trade helps to sustain B.C.’s small, open economy. So why does free trade improve British Columbia’s economic environment? Let’s overview some of the key reasons as to why free trade is so beneficial to British Columbia.   The Bank of Canada estimates 1 in 6 Canadian jobs is linked to export Free trade has had an overall positive effect on global wealth. The Bank of Canada reports that the most significant increase in gl... continue reading

Free trade agreements (FTAs) give British Columbia businesses the opportunity to grow. By granting preferential access to global markets, FTAs reduce barriers to trade such as tariffs, quotas and non-tariff barriers.  However, many B.C. companies are still paying higher tariffs on export and import goods and services. Why is this the case?  In 2018, a European Union (EU) study showed that only 49.6 percent of the Canadian goods eligible for preferential tariffs under the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) benefited from the tariffs. The utilization rate for Canadian exports to the EU increased ... continue reading

British Columbia (B.C.) is a prime investment location with rich natural resources and a skilled, educated workforce that is committed to innovation and sustainability. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted global trade and halted economies around the world, including B.C. The disruption of global supply chains has highlighted the need to explore increasing internal trade and to strength economic cooperation among provinces and territories to lay the foundation for a strong revitalization of our economy. In March 2021, Trade and Invest British Columbia participated in the inaugural True North Free Trade Forum, organized by the... continue reading

There are two imminent challenges British Columbia (B.C.) faces alongside humanity—COVID-19 and climate change. For the former, we have seen the incredible synergy achieved when the world unites. Scientists from different countries collaborated and shared knowledge. Several vaccines were developed in a very short time frame that will curb the impact of the virus globally. For the latter concern of climate change, British Columbia has been an active leader in promoting sustainability. In 2018, the Province of British Columbia announced CleanBC, a strategy aiming to reduce climate pollution and move B.C. into a low-carbon eco... continue reading

The film industry in British Columbia (B.C.) continues to flourish with major international projects like Pachinko, Peter Pan, and Riverdale currently in production. Learn why major studios are attracted to Hollywood North. Full-Service Collaboration British Columbia is Canada’s largest and North America’s third largest full-service motion picture hub, after Los Angeles and New York City, and has held this title for years. From physical production talent, services and infrastructure, to being one of the world’s largest animation and VFX clusters, through to world class post-production services, B.C. is recogni... continue reading

The United Nations General Assembly has designated 2021 the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables with an appeal to improve healthy and sustainable food production through innovation and technology.  BC Agritech is Reducing the Environmental Footprint of Agriculture Agritech is the art and science of producing more with less - more nutritious, affordable and abundant food with less space, water, soil, energy, fertilizer, chemicals and waste. The technology is not always new, but the applications are, and it’s a digital transformation that is improving agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture yields aroun... continue reading