Trade Policy and Negotiations

International Trade Negotiations (ITN) is part of the Department of Canadian Heritage's Creative Industries and Trade Branch. ITN supports the Department's mandate by ensuring that its cultural policies comply with international trade agreements. ITN also seeks to maintain the necessary flexibility to implement Canadian cultural policy within trade agreements. ITN works closely with Global Affairs Canada to develop trade policy and investment in Canada, and in international trade negotiations.

Canada recognizes cultural diversity as a source of creativity, innovation, social cohesion and economic development. In addition to encouraging the diversity of cultural expressions from around the world, Canada firmly believes that it is also essential to give Canadians access to their own history and culture through books, magazines, music, television, film and new media. Canada's cultural industries and the contributions of its artists and cultural professionals are an integral part of our identity.

ITN offers expertise on Canada's cultural trade policy in order to achieve a balance between trade liberalization and the promotion of our artists and cultural professionals, both nationally and internationally.

International Trade Negotiations (ITN) Activities

World Trade Organization

ITN participates actively in negotiations with the World Trade Organization (WTO) in order for Canada to achieve its cultural policy objectives. For more information on Canada's role refer to WTO negotiations website.

Bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements

ITN is involved in the negotiation of new trade agreements (bilateral and regional) and other initiatives related to existing agreements, such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Canada's policy on bilateral and regional agreements is to maintain the necessary flexibility to achieve Canadian cultural policy objectives by negotiating, for example, a general exemption for cultural industries.

Other international organizations

ITN has contributed actively to the Government of Canada's efforts in negotiating the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The Convention is an important international legal instrument, which reaffirms the States' right to implement cultural policies that support the diversity of cultural expressions. The Convention also recognizes the dual nature of economic and social cultural goods and services. ITN will continue to participate actively in the implementation of this Convention and contribute to this international approach to support the diversity of cultural expressions around the world.

ITN also participates in activities with different international organizations whose work focuses on cultural industries. This includes activities related to digital content by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).