Beyond Coal: Tomorrow’s Fast-Growth Opportunities in Asia

Asia is becoming a region of increasing importance for Canada’s global trade and investment relationships. Canadian producers benefited substantially from Asia’s fast-growing demand for natural resources over the last decade as exports of mining, agricultural, and forestry products soared. But Canada’s export mix focused on raw or semi-processed materials to the neglect of other goods and services, and Canada struggled to maintain its market share in Asia. Looking ahead, Canada’s largest Asian trade partner, China, is likely to slow its growth in demand for natural resources and shift to a different mix of goods and services that are conducive to a slower, consumption-driven growth environment. Canada will need to adapt to this new reality if it hopes to continue tapping into fast-growing opportunities in Asia. This briefing identifies the latest Canadian successes in Asian markets; highlights Canada’s untapped opportunities in Asia; identifies services that are expected to be in high demand; and illustrates success factors for Canadian companies operating abroad and in Asia specifically.

Part one of Canada’s changing trade with Asia series:

• Raising Our Game Across the Pacific: The Changing Nature of Canada’s Trade with Asia