New trade tool identifies $4-trillion in export opportunities for Southeast Alberta businesses

“Having a resource like this that businesses can access from any web browser, whether they’re at their desk or on their phone, [and] be able to insert and input their information and determine essentially what markets might be an opportunity for them.”

Dressler said the tool can help businesses investigate those markets with greater confidence and get a better understanding of where their products could find new customers.

The need to diversify is particularly important for businesses that have traditionally depended on customers in the United States.

“Many of our businesses have relied on a single customer outside of Canada being the U.S.,” Dressler said.

“This really identifies other opportunities; we have over 50 trade agreements around the world; a lot of businesses may have not really looked at other markets as potential opportunities.”

She said expanding into new markets could help businesses diversify their customer base and increase revenue in the region.

“Diversifying that customer base, expanding the export opportunity, bringing more of those dollars back to our local economy in our local region will be important as we move forward,” Dressler said.

Trade Explorer combines Canadian export strengths with global demand indicators to help businesses identify markets where their products may have a competitive advantage. Europe represents the largest potential opportunity identified by the tool.

Dressler said the chamber has seen tariff impacts on some businesses in the region and is working to provide information and advocate for changes that could help them navigate trade barriers.

“I know it has impacted some of our businesses in terms of tariffs and counter-tariffs,” Dressler said.

“So trying to provide us as many resources as possible, not only information but also the advocacy work that we’re doing to open up internal trade within our own country as well as provide insights to companies in terms of the export opportunity.”

That includes trade missions through the Alberta Chambers of Commerce and Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which can connect businesses with potential customers, partners and new markets.

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READ: Trade missions offer SE Alberta businesses access to new markets, growth opportunities

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Dressler said those opportunities, combined with resources such as Trade Explorer, can help businesses look beyond their traditional markets.

“We really want our businesses to be able to find avenues where they can sustain their business and ultimately thrive,” Dressler said.

“Whether that’s through intra-provincial trade missions through the Alberta Chambers of Commerce or international trade missions through the Canadian Chamber of Commerce or even just exploring what might be possible through tools like the Trade Explorer,” she added.

“We want to ensure ultimately that businesses can benefit by expanding, expanding their market beyond just our boundaries within Southeast Alberta or within North America and just taking a look at what’s possible.”

The chamber is preparing communications for its members that will consolidate information about tariff impacts, trade disruptions, export opportunities and available business supports.

Dressler said the chamber has been working with provincial and national organizations on advocacy efforts and recommendations related to trade missions, export opportunities and other supports.

“We’re essentially consolidating that information so that our members, particularly, know where to find that information,” she said.

The chamber is also planning a trade and tariff impact survey to gather information about how uncertainty, labour mobility barriers and supply chain challenges are affecting local operations.

Dressler said the survey will help the chamber better understand what businesses need and how it can respond.

“This survey filling out this survey will give us a local lens in terms of how trade uncertainty, tariff, labour mobility barriers, supply chain challenges are affecting their operations,” Dressler said.

“We’re really hoping that businesses will take the time to provide us insight in terms of the impacts on their business as well as what they need for support so that we can customize our information and our services to better suit businesses here in Southeast Alberta.”

Trade Explorer is designed for businesses considering exporting for the first time as well as those looking to expand into additional markets.

The tool can be accessed through the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s website.

by Jett Schwaier

New trade tool identifies $4-trillion in export opportunities for Southeast Alberta businesses

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