Preparing Canada for a New Trade and Technology Era

OTTAWA, July 5, 2016 /CNW/ - A new report from The Conference Board of Canada warns that Canada is facing a dramatically different global economic and business world and can no longer rely on high commodity prices or traditional manufacturing for future export successes and wealth.

The report, Canada's New Trade and Technology Paradigm: Finding the Right Policy Mix, highlights the need for Canada to position itself for a new trade era, characterized by a rebounding U.S. economy, the end of the commodity super-cycle and an acceleration of data-driven international business.

"The new global trade landscape raises new challenges for Canada," said Glen Hodgson, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist, The Conference Board of Canada. "It will no longer be enough to focus on tariff reductions to position Canada for export success."

"Data will be a key asset of the future," added Danielle Goldfarb, Director for the Conference Board's Global Commerce Centre and co-author of the report. "Policies will need to place much more emphasis on the movement of data, people, services, and investment."

HIGHLIGHTS

• Canada faces a new global economic and business context — with the U.S. economy rebounding and the acceleration of data-driven businesses.
• Canada can no longer rely on high commodity prices or traditional manufacturing for Canada's future export successes and wealth.
• New policies should put greater emphasis on freer movement of people, services, knowledge and data.

The Canadian economy has been struggling in recent years with weak growth, due in part to the end of the China-driven commodity super-cycle. Fortunately, U.S. consumer demand is finally rebounding, which offers the renewed opportunities for sales growth to our next-door neighbours. However, to take advantage of these opportunities, Canadian industries will need to rebuild and invest in their exporting capacity.

At the same time, non-traditional trade has been on the rise — accelerating the movement of data, people, services, and investment. The ability to digitize information and send this data anywhere has meant any individual or small business has the potential to trade globally. However, this has also resulted in increased competition and firms have to be more nimble to compete effectively.

Digitization has also created new types of trade in digital products and services and is even permeating into traditional trade. In future, manufacturing and engineering companies that rely on "Internet of Things" sensors will become data companies at their core, with huge amounts of customer behaviour and logistics data. Those who can best leverage international data flows will be best positioned to take full advantage of global markets in the future.

Climate change and related climate policies are another factor that will shape Canada's trade and supply chains. In addition to the environmental impacts, climate change and expected policy changes will create both challenges and opportunities for Canada's trade — including fostering demand for green trade.

Canada's New Trade and Technology Paradigm: Finding the Right Policy Mix is published under The Conference Board of Canada's Global Commerce Centre. The Centre provides evidence-based tools to help companies and governments respond successfully to the trends reshaping the global business environment.

Follow The Conference Board of Canada on Twitter.

For those interested in broadcast-quality interviews for your station, network, or online site, The Conference Board of Canada now has a studio capable of double-ender interviews (line fees apply), or we can send you pre-taped clips upon request.

If you would like to be removed from our distribution list, please e-mail [email protected].

SOURCE Conference Board of Canada

Yvonne Squires, Media Relations, The Conference Board of Canada, Tel.: [phone] ext. 221, E-mail: [email protected]; or Juline Ranger, Director of Communications, The Conference Board of Canada, Tel.: [phone] ext. 431, E-mail: [email protected]