Germany and Canada have long enjoyed good and reliable economic relations. However, the opportunities offered by this partnership have rarely been in the spotlight until now. That is beginning to change.
On November 23, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the IHK USA Discussion Group will be discussing what this renewed focus on Canada actually means, with Yvonne Denz, President & CEO of the German-Canadian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and Detlef Engler, Senior Investment Officer at the Canadian Embassy to Germany.
The fact that Germany and Canada are now taking a fresh look at one another has a great deal to do with the US. For a long time, many German companies viewed Canada through an American lens. But this perspective is no longer taken for granted. Tariffs, trade disputes and an economic policy whose course has become more difficult to predict are calling previous certainties into question. This is true in Germany as well as in Canada, which is seeking new partners and greater economic leeway vis-à-vis the US.
Germany needs reliable partners for energy, critical raw materials and resilient supply chains. Canada possesses key resources whilst also offering attractive markets in artificial intelligence, defence, infrastructure and the agri-food sector. This is where Canadian needs and German technological expertise converge, particularly in areas where small and medium-sized enterprises with specialised solutions are in demand.
This economic potential is matched by favourable political conditions. CETA already provides a robust foundation for trade and investment. But the ambitions go further. Discussions are underway regarding a new form of alliance, potentially even with Canada becoming the European Union’s first ‘associated member’.
However, Europe is unlikely to replace the US for Canada. Nor will Canada take the place of the US market for German companies. But perhaps that is the wrong expectation to have. What matters is not Canada instead of the US, but Canada as an independent pillar of a broader North American strategy.
What opportunities does Canada offer German SMEs today? What doors are CETA and the new rapprochement with Europe opening? And how can companies translate the new political momentum into concrete business opportunities? Our guests will provide first-hand insights, share their on-the-ground experiences and demonstrate where Canada has more to offer German companies than many have previously realised.
Agenda:
3.00 pm | Welcome by Pia-Felicitas Homann, Country Specialist for North, Central and South America, Hanover Chamber of Industry and Commerce
3.10 pm | Panel discussion featuring Yvonne Denz, President & CEO, German-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Detlef Engler, Senior Investment Officer, Canadian Embassy
4.00 pm | Exchange of experiences: Doing business in Canada in practice
4.30 pm | Networking reception
