Export and international business
50 answers. Written by the celerfunding.com editorial team from official sources. Each answer shows where it applies and when its sources were read.
Can I get a CanExport SMEs grant to develop export markets?
Possibly, if you are a for-profit Canadian incorporated entity, LLP or co-operative developing eligible international markets. Nonprofits and sole proprietors are not eligible.
The 2026-27 guide describes a grant or reimbursement-based contribution, with the applicant sharing costs. Conditions include 3 to 500 full-time employees, a revenue band, an active CRA number, ownership of exports, meaningful economic ties to Canada and sector exclusions. Agricultural and agri-food export support is directed elsewhere.
The applicant company must apply through the online portal. A consultant cannot apply on your behalf or be your legal signing authority.
Funding is limited per fiscal year and assessed on a rolling basis while funds remain. Current remaining budget was not confirmed, so check before you plan around it.
Nothing here predicts approval. Read the current guide first, then apply through the official portal.
Next: CanExport SMEs applicant guide
Sources (read 2026-10-31): CanExport guide; Application route and budget caveat
What export financing and support does the SBA offer US small businesses?
SBA offers several repayable export loans, and separate tools sit alongside them. None is a universal export grant.
The loan products named by SBA are Export Express, Export Working Capital, the Working Capital Pilot and International Trade loans. They come through participating export lenders. STEP is export promotion support delivered through states and territories, and awards vary by state. EXIM export credit insurance is a separate risk-protection tool, not funding.
Insurance protects against non-payment risk and should not be counted as a grant or loan.
Support is aimed at US small-business exporters and aspiring exporters, with product-specific rules and underwriting.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: read SBA's trade tools page and ask a participating lender or your state office which product fits.
Next: SBA trade tools
Sources (read 2026-10-31): SBA trade tools
What does EXIM export credit insurance cover?
It protects foreign receivables against commercial and political losses. If a buyer does not pay after the agreed time, EXIM pays under the policy.
EXIM says it covers up to 95 percent of sales invoices. Coverage can be for a single buyer, a few buyers or a whole export portfolio. The sequence is simple: agree credit terms with the buyer, ship and invoice, report the shipment and pay the premium, then the buyer pays or EXIM pays.
Insurance is risk protection that you buy. It is not a grant and not a loan, and a premium applies.
Policy types and eligibility differ, and the page does not list full conditions.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: read EXIM's policy list and request a consultation through its site.
Next: EXIM export credit insurance
Related: Can export credit insurance help me borrow more from my bank?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EXIM export credit insurance
Can export credit insurance help me borrow more from my bank?
It can, but only if your lender agrees. EXIM says insured receivables may be included in lenders' borrowing bases, which can improve access to financing and cash flow.
That means a bank may be more willing to lend against export invoices that are insured. The decision stays with the lender, who sets its own terms, advance rates and fees.
The insurance itself is not the loan. You still pay premiums, and a lender may require its own security.
The EXIM page lists lenders as one of its audiences, which suggests they use the product, but it does not guarantee any outcome for you.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: ask your bank whether it accepts EXIM-insured receivables in the borrowing base before you buy a policy.
Next: EXIM export credit insurance
Related: What does EXIM export credit insurance cover?; Does EXIM have an export insurance policy for small businesses?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EXIM export credit insurance
Does EXIM have an export insurance policy for small businesses?
Yes, EXIM lists a Multi-Buyer Small Business Insurance policy. The page does not set out its eligibility requirements.
The EXIM list also includes Direct Express Select, Multi-Buyer Express, Multi-Buyer Standard, Multi-Buyer Select Risk, Single Buyer, Letter of Credit, Financial Institution Buyer Credit and Medium-Term policies. The site has a section aimed at U.S. small businesses and exporters.
Because eligibility and pricing are not on that page, do not assume your company or buyer qualifies.
The page links an insurance broker locator, application forms and a consultation request.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: use the consultation request or a broker to ask which policy fits your sales volume and markets.
Next: EXIM export credit insurance
Related: Can export credit insurance help me borrow more from my bank?; Is export credit insurance the same as an export loan or grant?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EXIM export credit insurance
Is export credit insurance the same as an export loan or grant?
No. SBA treats EXIM export credit insurance as a separate risk-protection tool, not as funding.
A loan gives you money that you repay. A grant is non-repayable funding. Credit insurance gives you no cash up front. It pays a claim if a covered buyer fails to pay, subject to policy terms, and you pay a premium for it.
Because of this, insurance should not be counted as a grant or loan in a budget. It can still help by making receivables more attractive to a lender.
Every product has its own rules and underwriting.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: list the cash you need and the risks you want covered, then ask a lender or EXIM broker how each tool fits.
Next: SBA trade tools
Related: Does EXIM have an export insurance policy for small businesses?; What is the EXIM Working Capital Guarantee?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EXIM export credit insurance; SBA trade tools
What is the EXIM Working Capital Guarantee?
It is a guarantee EXIM gives to a lender on an exporter's loan. EXIM guarantees 90 percent of the loan to the lender, which lowers the lender's risk.
That can make a lender more willing to lend, and an exporter can borrow more against the same collateral because the borrowing base expands. It can support revolving or transaction-specific facilities, covering multiple export sales or single contracts.
The exporter needs at least 10 percent U.S. content. The page states no minimum or maximum transaction amount.
It is still a repayable loan from a lender, not a grant, and the lender decides whether to lend. The page does not say who submits the application.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: talk to a qualified lender about EXIM-backed working capital.
Next: EXIM working capital
Related: Is export credit insurance the same as an export loan or grant?; What can EXIM working capital guarantee proceeds pay for?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EXIM working capital guarantee
What can EXIM working capital guarantee proceeds pay for?
EXIM names paying for materials, equipment, supplies, labor and other inputs needed to fill export orders. It also names posting standby letters of credit as bid bonds, performance bonds or payment guarantees, and buying finished products for export.
The page lists no ineligible uses, but that does not mean anything goes. The lender's own policies and the content rule apply.
Exporters need at least 10 percent U.S. content, and the loan stays repayable.
Community banks may also use a simplified model through the Community Lender Enhancement Initiative.
This is information, not a lending service.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: write down the orders and costs you want covered and discuss them with a qualified lender.
Next: EXIM working capital
Related: What is the EXIM Working Capital Guarantee?; What export products does Export Development Canada (EDC) offer?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EXIM working capital guarantee
What export products does Export Development Canada (EDC) offer?
EDC lists four categories: insurance, guarantees, loans and investments.
Insurance is trade credit insurance covering non-payment. Guarantees are working capital guarantees arranged through your financial institution. Loans include direct lending, buyer financing, and structured and project finance. Investments mean equity support.
EDC serves Canadian companies growing internationally and names sectors such as agri-food, cleantech, defence and security, digital, energy, and mining and minerals.
The page gives no size or eligibility criteria for any product, and no mention of bonding was found on it.
So treat the list as a map, not an offer.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: call EDC at 1-800-229-0575 or use its online inquiry form to be connected to a trade expert.
Next: EDC solutions
Related: What can EXIM working capital guarantee proceeds pay for?; Does EDC lend directly to small exporters?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EDC solutions
Does EDC lend directly to small exporters?
Unclear from the page read. EDC lists Direct Lending as a loan product but gives no size or eligibility criteria.
So a small exporter cannot tell from that page whether direct lending is open to it. EDC guarantees are different: it says working capital guarantees are accessed through your financial institution.
For smaller needs, an export-related request often starts with your bank and a guarantee or insurance rather than a direct EDC loan, but EDC decides case by case.
Do not assume a minimum, a maximum or a turnaround time.
This is information, not a recommendation of a product.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: call EDC at 1-800-229-0575 or use its inquiry form and ask which product fits your company's size and sector.
Next: EDC solutions
Related: What export products does Export Development Canada (EDC) offer?; When should I apply for CanExport SMEs funding relative to my project start?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EDC solutions
When should I apply for CanExport SMEs funding relative to my project start?
Submit at least 60 business days before the start date of your first proposed activity, according to the CanExport how-to-apply page.
That is a lead time, not a deadline. Funding is limited per fiscal year and assessed on a rolling basis while funds remain, and remaining budget was not confirmed, so waiting can reduce your chances.
The funding agreement sets the project start and completion dates. Costs incurred or paid before the agreement are at the applicant's own risk.
The page does not state funding amounts or the cost-share percentage, so check the applicant guide for those.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: draft your project plan now, check the guide's conditions, and apply early.
Next: CanExport SMEs applicant guide
Related: Does EDC lend directly to small exporters?; Can I spend money on my export project before a CanExport agreement is signed?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Application route and budget caveat
Can I spend money on my export project before a CanExport agreement is signed?
You can, but at your own risk. The CanExport page says costs incurred or paid before the funding agreement are at the applicant's own risk.
That means a cost paid early may not be reimbursed. The funding agreement sets the project start and completion dates, and eligible expenses and reimbursement details come with the next-step information after approval.
The page does not list eligible or ineligible expenses, so do not assume any item qualifies. Check the applicant guide and recipient guide.
Because funding can be reimbursement-based, you may need cash to pay costs first.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: hold major commitments until you have the agreement, or accept the risk knowingly.
Next: CanExport SMEs applicant guide
Related: When should I apply for CanExport SMEs funding relative to my project start?; Who handles CanExport SMEs claims and payments?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Application route and budget caveat; CanExport guide
Who handles CanExport SMEs claims and payments?
The NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program, NRC IRAP, handles claims and payments for CanExport SMEs recipients, according to the how-to-apply page.
Questions can go to the CanExport email address listed on that page (nrc.canexport.cnrc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca), and the Recipient guide explains the claims process.
The page does not describe the reimbursement steps, so read the guide before you plan cash flow.
Because some contributions are reimbursement-based, you may have to pay costs first and claim afterward.
Nothing here predicts approval or speed. Next step: after any approval, read the Recipient guide and keep invoices and proof of payment organized.
Next: CanExport SMEs applicant guide
Related: Can I spend money on my export project before a CanExport agreement is signed?; Can a consultant sign or submit my CanExport application?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Application route and budget caveat
Can a consultant sign or submit my CanExport application?
No. The applicant company must apply, and a consultant cannot apply on its behalf or be its legal signing authority.
A consultant may help prepare plans or documents if you authorize it, but the submission and signature must come from the company. Any advisory help is a separate matter, and CELER does not file applications as the client.
Check any contingency or success fee against the current guide and against local rules before agreeing to one.
The 2026-27 guide is the source here, and rules can change each year.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: read the signing-authority section of the guide and keep control of your own portal login.
Next: CanExport SMEs applicant guide
Related: Who handles CanExport SMEs claims and payments?; Can agricultural or agri-food exporters use CanExport SMEs?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
Can agricultural or agri-food exporters use CanExport SMEs?
Generally no. The CanExport guide directs agricultural and agri-food export support elsewhere.
The research behind this answer points to AgriMarketing as the alternative, but the program page for it was not read in this run. Treat that as a lead to check, not a confirmed route.
Other sector exclusions also apply under the 2026-27 guide, so a business in a mixed sector should read the exclusions list.
Eligibility also needs a for-profit Canadian entity, LLP or co-operative with the stated employee range.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: confirm which agency covers your product category before spending time on an application.
Next: CanExport SMEs applicant guide
Related: Can a consultant sign or submit my CanExport application?; Can a sole proprietor get CanExport SMEs funding?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
Can a sole proprietor get CanExport SMEs funding?
No. The CanExport guide says sole proprietors and nonprofits are not eligible.
Eligible applicants are for-profit Canadian incorporated entities, LLPs or co-operatives developing eligible international markets. Other conditions include 3 to 500 full-time employees, an active CRA number, ownership of exports and meaningful economic ties to Canada.
A sole proprietor who incorporates would need to meet all conditions, including the employee range, so incorporation alone does not make a business eligible.
Rules can change each year, so confirm in the current guide.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: read the eligibility section of the applicant guide before deciding on structure, and ask a lawyer or accountant about incorporation.
Next: CanExport SMEs applicant guide
Related: Can agricultural or agri-food exporters use CanExport SMEs?; What is STEP and is it an export grant?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
What is STEP and is it an export grant?
STEP is export promotion support delivered through states and territories. SBA describes it as a separate tool, and awards vary by state.
It is not a universal export grant and not an SBA loan. What it pays for and who qualifies depend on your state's program, so do not assume costs such as trade shows or translation are covered.
SBA lists STEP alongside Export Express, Export Working Capital, the Working Capital Pilot and International Trade loans, and EXIM insurance.
Support is aimed at U.S. small-business exporters and aspiring exporters.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: contact your state trade office or SBA district office and ask whether STEP is running and what it covers this year.
Next: SBA trade tools
Related: Can a sole proprietor get CanExport SMEs funding?; Who has to follow OFAC sanctions when exporting?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): SBA trade tools
Who has to follow OFAC sanctions when exporting?
All U.S. persons must comply. That includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are, and entities in the United States or incorporated there, along with their foreign branches.
For certain programs, foreign subsidiaries owned or controlled by U.S. persons must comply as well. Non-U.S. persons cannot cause or conspire to cause U.S. persons to violate sanctions.
OFAC says violations may bring civil and sometimes criminal penalties, and it suggests due diligence and an effective sanctions compliance program.
Screening against the SDN list is common practice, using OFAC's Sanctions List Search tool.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Nothing here predicts outcomes. Next step: read OFAC's FAQs and ask a trade lawyer how to set up screening for your sales.
Next: OFAC sanctions FAQs
Related: What is STEP and is it an export grant?; What is OFAC's 50 percent rule?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): OFAC sanctions compliance FAQs
What is OFAC's 50 percent rule?
It means entities owned 50 percent or more, individually or in the aggregate, by blocked persons are also blocked, even if they are not listed.
OFAC's FAQs state that blocking covers such entities, blocked foreign governments and most Cuban nationals. Sanctioned persons can be located anywhere, not only in sanctioned jurisdictions.
So checking only a buyer's name against the SDN list may not be enough. Ownership matters.
OFAC's Sanctions List Search tool can check current lists, and it advises contacting OFAC with questions on specific transactions.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Nothing here predicts outcomes. Next step: ask a trade lawyer how to check ownership of foreign buyers before you ship.
Next: OFAC sanctions FAQs
Related: Who has to follow OFAC sanctions when exporting?; What should I do if I find a possible sanctions violation or blocked property?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): OFAC sanctions compliance FAQs
What should I do if I find a possible sanctions violation or blocked property?
Blocked property must be reported to OFAC within 10 business days after it becomes blocked. Possible violations can be reported through OFAC's Disclosure Portal.
OFAC says voluntary self-disclosure is a mitigating factor in enforcement, and a detailed report generally should follow an initial notification within 180 days.
The stakes are high, so do not guess. Stop the transaction, preserve records and get advice before contacting buyers or banks.
Canada has its own sanctions rules, which this page does not cover.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Nothing here predicts outcomes. Next step: contact a sanctions lawyer promptly and consider OFAC's reporting steps.
Next: OFAC sanctions FAQs
Related: What is OFAC's 50 percent rule?; What free export help does the US Commercial Service offer?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): OFAC sanctions compliance FAQs
What free export help does the US Commercial Service offer?
The U.S. Commercial Service says it helps businesses with trade expertise, connections and real-world insight in international markets.
Its export solutions page lists an Export Solutions Roadmap, a three-phase journey for working with foreign buyers, plus services for new exporters, experienced exporters and rural companies. It also lists trade missions, buyer meetings and networking events.
The page does not describe costs, so fees for events or matching services are unconfirmed. Do not assume everything is free.
It is guidance and introductions, not funding.
Nothing here predicts approval or sales. Next step: contact your nearest U.S. Commercial Service office and ask which services match your stage and what they cost.
Next: US Commercial Service export solutions
Related: What should I do if I find a possible sanctions violation or blocked property?; Where do Canadian exporters find federal export support?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Export solutions (US Commercial Service)
Where do Canadian exporters find federal export support?
Start with the federal supports-for-business navigator, which splits export help across different organizations.
The research notes that EDC provides financing and advice, the Trade Commissioner Service signposts export advice and funding, and the Canadian Commercial Corporation supports international government contracts. These are not interchangeable grant programs.
Do not assume every exporter or nonprofit qualifies for each one. EDC product-level underwriting and applicant restrictions were not verified in the navigator source.
So the right door depends on whether you need money, advice or a government buyer.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: decide which need comes first, then follow the navigator to the matching organization.
Next: ISED supports for business
Related: What free export help does the US Commercial Service offer?; Is the Canadian Commercial Corporation a source of grants?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Canada export-support navigator
Is the Canadian Commercial Corporation a source of grants?
No. The research source describes CCC as international government-contract support, not a grant program.
It sits alongside EDC (financing and advice) and the Trade Commissioner Service (export advice and funding signposting). CCC's own page could not be fetched in this run, so details of how it contracts, who can use it and fees are not confirmed here.
Do not assume that CCC pays for your costs or that every exporter qualifies.
Contract support helps when a foreign government buyer is involved, but it does not replace funding.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: use the federal navigator to reach CCC and ask about eligibility for your product and buyer.
Next: ISED supports for business
Related: Where do Canadian exporters find federal export support?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Canada export-support navigator
Do I need an export permit to ship goods from Canada?
Not always, but restricted goods need a permit before they leave Canada. Whether yours does depends on what the goods are.
CBSA says some goods need permits, certificates or licences from other departments, and its restricted-goods rules mean a permit is always required for those items. Global Affairs Canada says goods and technology on the Export Control List need a permit, military goods generally regardless of destination, and applications go through its NEXCOL system.
Other goods, such as food, plants, firearms, cultural property or nuclear items, have their own agencies and pages. For ordinary non-restricted goods, no permit may be needed, but you still report the shipment as the rules require.
Nothing here is legal advice and it does not say your goods are cleared.
Next step: check the Export Control List guide and the product-specific pages, or ask a customs professional.
Next: International funding resources
Related: What customs paperwork do I need to export goods?; How do Canadian sanctions rules affect my export sales?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Exporting goods from Canada (CBSA); Exporter guide: reporting commercial goods; Exporting military and strategic goods and technology
Do I need a US export license for my product?
It depends on what the item is, where it is going, who gets it and what they will do with it. Many shipments need no license, but some do.
The US Bureau of Industry and Security points exporters through a sequence. First decide whether the item is subject to the Export Administration Regulations. Then classify it, for example by an export control classification number. Then check destination country guidance, end-use and end-user controls and any license exceptions. If a license is still required, you apply through BIS's SNAP-R system.
The BIS page I read gives the steps but not the classification criteria, so do not assume an item is exempt from the page alone. Sanctions rules are separate.
Nothing here is legal advice.
Next step: work through the BIS steps with your product data, or ask an export compliance professional.
Next: US funding resources
Related: Who has to follow OFAC sanctions when exporting?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Do I need a license (BIS)
Can I get duty drawback on goods I export from Canada?
Often you can get a refund of customs duties on imported goods that you later export, but the rules are detailed. CBSA runs the program.
CBSA describes a Drawback Program for people who have already paid duties on imported goods and want those duties refunded. A related Duties Relief Program instead lets importers, owners, manufacturers and processors avoid paying duties up front on goods that will be re-exported, unchanged or after processing.
The page I read does not set out the time limit, the claim steps or the exact conditions. It points to CBSA memoranda D7-4-1 and D7-4-2 for those. Do not assume a refund on any particular goods.
Nothing here predicts the amount.
Next step: read those memoranda and check your records of duties paid, or ask a customs professional.
Next: International funding resources
Related: How does CUSMA affect tariffs on my goods, and what origin proof do I need?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Trade incentive programs (duties relief and drawback)
What is a letter of credit and how does it protect an exporter?
A letter of credit is a commitment from the foreign buyer's bank to pay you once you ship and present the required documents. It can give an exporter a payment assurance while the buyer gets reasonable terms.
The US International Trade Administration notes the costs and the paperwork risk. Letters of credit are relatively expensive because of bank fees, and the documents are detailed and prone to errors. A discrepancy can delay payment and add fees, because your bank must return the documents for correction before paying.
The page recommends asking your bank about costs and who pays the fees, and using trained professionals to prepare documents. It does not cover confirmed versus unconfirmed credits, so ask your bank about that.
This is not a loan or grant.
Next step: ask your bank how a letter of credit would work for your buyer and market.
Next: International funding resources
Related: Can export credit insurance help me borrow more from my bank?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Letter of Credit
Is GST/HST charged on exports from Canada?
Generally no. Exports of goods by a vendor are usually zero-rated, meaning GST/HST is charged at 0 percent, if the conditions are met.
CRA's memorandum says a supply of goods is zero-rated when the supplier ships the goods to a destination outside Canada, hands them to a common carrier or consignee to ship abroad, or sends them by mail or courier to an address outside Canada. You must keep evidence, such as an invoice or contract, a bill of lading, a broker or forwarder invoice, or destination import documents. Services performed entirely outside Canada are also not charged GST/HST, and certain services to unregistered non-residents are zero-rated.
If the conditions are not met, tax may apply. Registrants can still claim input tax credits.
This is general information, not tax advice.
Next step: read the CRA memorandum or ask your accountant.
Next: International funding resources
Related: What customs paperwork do I need to export goods?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): GST/HST Memorandum 4.5.2 Exports - Tangible Personal Property; GST/HST on imports and exports
How does CUSMA affect tariffs on my goods, and what origin proof do I need?
CUSMA can give your goods preferential tariff treatment, but only if the importer holds a valid certification of origin. I cannot tell you your tariff rate from this source.
CBSA says the importer must have the certification when claiming preference and give it to CBSA on request. The exporter, producer or importer can complete it. It has no prescribed format and can sit on an invoice. It must include the certifier's details, exporter and producer details, a description with a six-digit HS code, the origin criterion, a blanket period of up to 12 months, and a signed and dated statement.
The certifier must keep records showing the goods are originating, such as bills of lading and invoices.
Tariff rules change often, so check current rates separately. Nothing here is legal advice.
Next step: confirm your goods meet a CUSMA origin rule, then prepare the certification.
Next: International funding resources
Related: Can I get duty drawback on goods I export from Canada?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CUSMA: certifying the origin of goods
Can CanExport SMEs pay to protect my intellectual property in a new market?
Possibly, for filing in the target market. The 2026-27 CanExport SMEs guide lists IP protection as an eligible category. Eligible costs include filing a patent or industrial design application, applying to register a trademark or copyright, and IP professional services from a consultant or legal firm, including developing an international IP strategy, database searches, and drafting or filing formal documents.
Not eligible are application fees for protecting IP within Canada, maintenance and renewal fees, expert or legal advice on IP disputes, a Canadian IP strategy, and applications for insurance of IP. Product development and production costs are also excluded.
CanExport reimburses part of eligible costs only for approved applicants and projects.
Rules change each year. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: read the IP category in the current guide and email the program with questions before you incur any cost.
Next: Canada funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
Can CanExport SMEs pay for drafting or translating sales contracts and distribution agreements?
Possibly, if the contract is needed to enter the target market. The 2026-27 CanExport SMEs guide lists, under contractual agreements, engaging an independent contractor to create, adapt or translate sales contracts, distribution agreements, nondisclosure agreements and similar legally binding documents that are required to penetrate a target market.
Not eligible are registration or legal fees to incorporate a subsidiary in the target market, and any other costs tied to contractual agreements, product registration and certification. The guide also excludes long-term legal services as overhead.
So a one-time contract translation may fit, while ongoing legal retainers do not. Costs must fall in the approved project period. Get the cost approved in your agreement first.
Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: confirm the exact wording in the current guide and ask the program before hiring a lawyer.
Next: Canada funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
Does Canada fund trade show attendance abroad?
Yes, in some cases. CanExport SMEs can reimburse part of the cost of in-person trade shows abroad, but only for eligible businesses and costs.
The 2026-27 applicant guide treats in-person events in approved target markets, with confirmed dates, as eligible. Eligible costs include booth registration, design, rental, utilities, liability insurance and shipping, with up to two travellers per event. Virtual events are no longer eligible. Funding covers up to 50 percent of costs for requests of $10,000 to $50,000, and total government assistance cannot exceed 75 percent of project costs. Payments must come from a business account or card.
Not-for-profits are not eligible, and applicants must be incorporated.
Costs incurred before agreement may be excluded, and nothing here predicts approval.
Next step: read the current guide and check your event is in an approved market.
Next: CanExport SMEs applicant guide
Related: Can I get a CanExport SMEs grant to develop export markets?; When should I apply for CanExport SMEs funding relative to my project start?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
Can CanExport SMEs pay for supplier diversity certification?
Possibly. The 2026-27 CanExport SMEs guide lists obtaining Supplier Diversity Certification from a recognized body as an eligible cost for companies owned by exporters from diverse backgrounds. It names women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community and youth.
The applicant must clearly show that the certification is for use in, and recognized in, the target market. Registration, product certification and other certification costs are not eligible under the same category.
The guide describes this as a funded expense, not a separate stream or priority treatment. Ordinary eligibility rules apply, and only approved projects receive reimbursement.
This helps when buyers in a target market, such as large US corporations, ask for certified diverse suppliers. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: find out which body the buyers in your market recognize, then check the guide.
Next: Canada funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
Are there US state export grants for small business?
Often yes through STEP, but the money goes to the state, not directly to you. Each state manages its own assistance.
SBA says STEP awards go to state and territory governments, and state organizations then provide the assistance locally. Established US small businesses can use STEP-funded help for trade missions, trade show exhibits, export training workshops, translation and marketing materials, Department of Commerce service subscriptions and consultancy.
SBA's directory lists each state's representative. What your state offers, and when, varies, and funds are limited.
Some states also have their own programs that this answer does not cover.
Nothing here predicts an award.
Next step: find your state in SBA's STEP awardee directory and ask that office how to apply.
Next: SBA STEP
Related: What export financing and support does the SBA offer US small businesses?; What is STEP and is it an export grant?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
What is the SBA Export Express loan?
Export Express is an SBA-backed export loan of up to $500,000. It is a repayable loan, not a grant.
SBA describes it as fast capital that participating Export Express lenders can underwrite without prior SBA approval. SBA's page lists up to a 90 percent guaranty as the general export-loan figure but does not state a specific percentage for Export Express. It also lists Export Working Capital up to $5 million, and International Trade loans up to $5 million in total financing.
The page does not list eligibility criteria. It directs you to an SBA Export Finance Manager or a participating export lender.
The lender, not SBA, decides on credit. Nothing here predicts approval, rates or speed.
Next step: contact an SBA Export Finance Manager or a participating lender to ask whether Export Express fits.
Next: SBA export products
Related: What export financing and support does the SBA offer US small businesses?; What is the EXIM Working Capital Guarantee?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Trade tools for international sales: SBA export products
Can a nonprofit or charity export services or goods with government support?
It depends on the program, and the main Canadian export grant excludes nonprofits. Check each program's own rules.
The CanExport SMEs applicant guide says applicants must be for-profit businesses and that not-for-profits are not eligible. It also requires an incorporated entity with a CRA business number.
STEP, the US state export program, is described for established small businesses, and I did not find a nonprofit route on the page read. Other programs that serve charities or social enterprises are not covered here.
A charity that sells abroad may also face tax and registration rules, so get advice before starting.
Nothing here predicts approval.
Next step: ask your funder or a program officer, and check export rules for your goods.
Next: Nonprofit funding resources
Related: Can I get a CanExport SMEs grant to develop export markets?; Can a sole proprietor get CanExport SMEs funding?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide; State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
How do Canadian sanctions rules affect my export sales?
They apply to every person in Canada and to Canadians abroad, and breaking them is a criminal offence. Check your buyer and route against the lists before you sell.
Global Affairs Canada says measures can include asset freezes, dealings bans, financial restrictions such as on letters of credit, and export and import restrictions. Indirect dealings, including facilitating a deal with a listed person, can be covered, and entities owned or controlled at 50 percent or more may also be caught. Penalties include up to $25,000 and/or one year on summary conviction, or five years on indictment, under SEMA; the United Nations Act carries higher maxima.
Permits are discretionary and have no set timeline. Do not proceed until you hold a signed permit. GAC does not give legal advice.
Next step: consult a lawyer and use GAC's sanctions pages.
Next: International funding resources
Related: Who has to follow OFAC sanctions when exporting?; What is OFAC's 50 percent rule?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Canadian sanctions: essential information
Does the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act affect my foreign sales?
It can, if your business or its agents are covered by the US law. Bribing foreign officials to win business is the core risk.
The US Department of Justice and SEC publish a resource guide to the FCPA. It covers the anti-bribery and accounting provisions, who and what is covered, the definition of a foreign official, the law's jurisdictional reach, proper and improper payments, and what an effective compliance program looks like. A 2024 law, FEPA, also criminalizes the demand side of foreign bribery.
The page I read does not give a plain test of whether you are covered, and it does not cover Canada's own anti-bribery law, so do not assume Canadian-only sellers are outside the risk.
This is not legal advice.
Next step: read the guide and speak to a lawyer before using agents or distributors.
Next: International funding resources
Related: How do Canadian sanctions rules affect my export sales?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): FCPA Resource Guide
What customs paperwork do I need to export goods?
For commercial goods you usually file an electronic export declaration with CBSA, plus any permit and a certificate of origin if the buyer will claim tariff preference. Rules vary by goods and destination.
CBSA says restricted goods always need a permit and a declaration for all destinations except the United States. Non-restricted goods need no declaration for the US. For other destinations a declaration is needed if the commercial goods are worth CAN $2,000 or more. Declarations go through CERS or G7-EDI, and you need a business number and an export program identifier. You give your carrier the proof of report number.
Transport documents may be marked "no declaration required" for exempt goods.
GST/HST evidence of export is a separate record.
Nothing here is legal advice.
Next step: read CBSA's exporter guide.
Next: International funding resources
Related: Do I need an export permit to ship goods from Canada?; Do I need a customs broker to export?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Exporter guide: reporting commercial goods
Do I need a customs broker to export?
No, a customs broker is not required, but you remain responsible for the export report either way. You may delegate the work.
CBSA says the exporter is responsible for reporting, though it can be delegated to a third party such as a customs service provider. Even when you delegate, you stay ultimately responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of the information, and the provider must enter your business number, not its own.
You can also file yourself, using the CERS portal, which CBSA recommends if unsure. You need a business number and an export program identifier first.
A broker may help with permits and classification, but this page does not say what they cost or when you need one.
Nothing here is legal advice.
Next step: decide whether to file in-house or use a provider, and keep records of what they filed.
Next: International funding resources
Related: What customs paperwork do I need to export goods?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Exporter guide: reporting commercial goods
How do Incoterms affect pricing and risk in an export sale?
Incoterms set who does and pays for what in the shipment, and when risk passes from seller to buyer. The International Trade Administration describes them as internationally recognized rules that define seller and buyer responsibilities in an export transaction. The International Chamber of Commerce publishes them, and Incoterms 2020 is the current version named on the page.
There are 11 rules: seven for any mode of transport and four for sea or inland waterway shipping. Each says who arranges carriage, who must provide cargo insurance, who handles export and import licences and customs, and when delivery occurs.
They do not set the price, say when title passes, set payment terms, or cover disputes. Your contract must state which version applies.
A wrong choice can leave you paying costs you did not price. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: ask a freight forwarder or lawyer to check the term before you quote.
Next: International funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Know Your Incoterms
Can CanExport SMEs pay for market research or a feasibility study for a new export market?
Possibly. The 2026-27 CanExport SMEs guide lists export market studies as eligible consultant costs, including market entry strategies that explain demand, competition, regulations and entry channels. It also lists feasibility studies to judge whether entering a target market is viable, given the company's capabilities, costs and risks.
Buying information resources for the project period, such as research studies, contact lists from reputable sources, or market research software or subscriptions, may be eligible with justification. Software that includes a CRM or marketing component is not.
The guide also excludes ongoing, operational activities and consultants paid by monthly retainer.
Only approved applicants and projects are reimbursed, and rules change each year. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: scope the study as a one-time deliverable and check it against the current guide.
Next: Canada funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
Can CanExport SMEs pay a lead generator or B2B matchmaking service?
Possibly. The 2026-27 CanExport SMEs guide lists, under consultants, identifying key contacts through a lead generator who finds qualified commercial leads, makes first contact, and prepares contact lists and company profiles. It also lists facilitating business-to-business meeting programs and matchmaking, such as arranging logistics and scheduling meetings.
The consultant must remain independent and give short-term strategic support without representing your company in the target market.
Not eligible are consultants acting as an in-market representative or extension of your company, executing strategies and managing on-the-ground activities, and contracts paid monthly, including ongoing or operational work.
Only approved projects are reimbursed. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: define a fixed-scope, fixed-fee lead task and check it against the current guide.
Next: Canada funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
Can I put an agent or consultant on a monthly retainer in my target market and have CanExport pay?
No. The 2026-27 CanExport SMEs guide says a consultant serving as an in-market representative and acting as an extension of the applicant organization is not eligible. Neither are consultants who execute strategies and manage on-the-ground activities in the target market.
Contracts or mandates paid monthly, including ongoing or operational activities, are also not eligible. The guide separately excludes ongoing operational activities, employee salaries, commissions, and costs that could subsidize a product's selling price.
What can be eligible are short-term, independent consultant tasks such as market studies, feasibility studies, lead generation and B2B meeting facilitation, if they fit the guide.
That means a standing overseas sales agent has to be paid from your own funds. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: restructure the work as a defined, time-limited deliverable, then check it with the program.
Next: Canada funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
Can I get EXIM medium- or long-term support if my product has foreign content?
Sometimes, but support is limited by US content. Under the standard rule EXIM supports the lesser of 85 percent of eligible contract value or 100 percent of the US content.
EXIM requires goods and services to be shipped from the US to a foreign buyer. Foreign components can count if they ship from the US, and goods made entirely in a third country can qualify. Foreign content that is transshipped through the US does not count. An exception for Transformational Export Areas can allow full financing at 51 percent US content, and content of Chinese origin is ineligible there.
This page covers medium- and long-term support only; short-term and small-business policies use different tests. Nothing here predicts approval.
Next step: calculate your US content and ask EXIM which policy applies.
Next: EXIM content policy
Related: What does EXIM export credit insurance cover?; What is the EXIM Working Capital Guarantee?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Medium- and Long-term Content Policy
Can I finance a foreign buyer's purchase of my goods?
Yes in some cases. EDC lists Buyer Financing as a way to get financing for international customers.
EDC's solutions page says Canadian exporters can offer buyer financing alongside its loans, insurance and guarantees. The page does not give eligibility criteria, rates or limits, so I cannot say who qualifies. Buyer financing is a financing product, not a grant. It is a different tool from trade credit insurance, which covers non-payment by buyers.
On the US side, I did not read an EXIM buyer-finance page for this answer.
Terms and credit decisions belong to the lender. Nothing here predicts approval.
Next step: ask EDC whether buyer financing suits your deal and buyer.
Next: EDC solutions
Related: What export products does Export Development Canada (EDC) offer?; Does EDC lend directly to small exporters?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EDC solutions
Is there a cap on how much CanExport SMEs funding one company can receive in a year?
Yes. The 2026-27 CanExport SMEs guide says a company can receive a maximum of $99,999 in total CanExport funding per Government of Canada fiscal year. Per project, you must request between $10,000 and $50,000 CAD, and the program funds up to 50 percent of eligible costs, which implies a total project value of $20,000 to $100,000 CAD.
The Government of Canada fiscal year runs April to March. Funding is limited and assessed while funds remain, so asking for the maximum does not mean getting it.
The guide also excludes GST, refundable taxes, capital assets, salaries and overhead from eligible costs, so your actual reimbursement may be lower than your total spending.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: plan separate projects within the cap and confirm figures in the current guide.
Next: Canada funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
What is the difference between EDC Select and Portfolio Credit Insurance?
On EDC's credit insurance page, Select Credit Insurance suits occasional exporters, covering individual invoices typically from $5,000 to $500,000. Portfolio Credit Insurance suits active, high-volume exporters, covering receivables typically above $500,000.
Both are trade credit insurance for Canadian companies selling to international buyers. The main protection is against non-payment by foreign buyers, and coverage can include certain political risks that prevent payment, such as government actions or restrictions in the buyer's country. Coverage depends on EDC's assessment and policy terms, and EDC compensates only the covered portion of an approved loss.
The page does not state the percentage covered or whether services are covered, so ask EDC.
Insurance is a product with a premium, not a grant. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: contact EDC or an insurance broker for a quote.
Next: Canada funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EDC trade credit insurance
Can I get a grant to translate my website or adapt a product for export?
Possibly, since export grants can cover marketing adaptation and translation, but only under each program's rules.
CanExport SMEs lists eligible categories including marketing adaptation, interpretation, consultants and intellectual property protection, and excludes salaries, GST, capital assets, overhead, retroactive costs and prototype development. Contributions must be financial, payments must come from a business account, and not-for-profits are not eligible.
In the US, SBA says STEP funds can go to translation fees and marketing materials for established small businesses, through your state office.
Product redesign itself is not clearly covered by either page.
Nothing here predicts approval.
Next step: check the eligible-cost list in the program guide before spending.
Next: CanExport SMEs applicant guide
Related: Can I get a CanExport SMEs grant to develop export markets?; Are there US state export grants for small business?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide; State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
Can CanExport SMEs pay to set up a foreign subsidiary or certify my product abroad?
No, not for those costs. The 2026-27 CanExport SMEs guide says registration or legal fees to incorporate a subsidiary company in a target market are not eligible. It also lists as not eligible any other costs related to contractual agreements, product registration and certification.
The guide's broader ineligible list adds capital costs, real estate and other capital assets, overhead such as warehousing and long-term legal services, employee salaries and commissions, prototype development, and GST and refundable taxes.
A narrow related item can be eligible: obtaining supplier diversity certification recognized in the target market, for companies owned by exporters from diverse backgrounds. That is separate from product certification.
Plan to pay subsidiary set-up and product approvals yourself. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: read the ineligible costs section of the current guide before budgeting.
Next: Canada funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CanExport guide
What CELER is and is not. celerfunding.com is operated by Celer Merchants Corporation. We are not a lender, grantmaker, government agency, investment portal or licensed adviser, and we are not an official partner of the programs mentioned here. This page is general information, not legal, tax, investment or credit advice. A CELER enquiry is not an official grant or loan application.