Canada has long flown under New Zealand businesses’ radar. When most people think North America, they think the United States, and not the 37 million people north of the border .

That may change when the CPTPP free trade agreement comes into effect on December 30, reducing tariffs for exporters and providing enhanced options for service-based companies to secure Canadian visas for their staff.

Canada is the ideal next step for New Zealand companies which have earned their stripes in Australia. The Commonwealth connection makes it logistically and culturally familiar, the federal government structure makes operations in Canada’s provinces similar to Australian states. For any New Zealand company looking to do business in the US, having a Canadian presence is a big advantage. A familiar accent goes a long way when dealing with the US, as does having Canadian customer reference points and representation in the same time zones.

NZTE’s latest report shares more detail on the tech opportunities in Canada.