Each year, CanExport SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) funding is refined to respond to shifts in the global trade environment, evolving government priorities, and emerging business realities.
Before applying, review what has recently changed and what you need to know to ensure your application aligns with this year’s objectives, requirements, and funding parameters.
The following updates support Canada’s Trade Diversification Strategy and the objective of doubling non-United States (U.S.) exports over the next decade:
To support continued diversification, applicants may target either the U.S. or other international markets, but not both.
The program continues to support companies entering new international markets. As such, sub-market segmentation has been removed for Brazil, China, India, and the U.S. Each country now counts as one target market toward the maximum of five per project. Eligibility is assessed for the country as a whole based on previous sales.
Approximately $31 million will be available in 2026–27 for international market activities.
Of this total amount, approximately $3.1 million will support projects targeting the U.S.
The program aims to issue decisions within 60 business days from the date an application is submitted.
For applications targeting the U.S. (except for those in the defence sector), the program aims to issue decisions within 90 business days.
Minimum eligibility requirements have increased to 3 full-time employees and $300,000 in annual revenue, up from 1 full-time equivalent employee (FTE) and $100,000 in minimum annual revenue. This change is to ensure that the program supports Canadian companies with the capacity to successfully diversify their exports into new markets.
CanExport SMEs no longer supports companies in the agriculture, agri-food (including alcohol and spirits) and agri-products sectors, including fish and seafood. For a detailed overview, please refer to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s sector overview. Interested stakeholders are invited to contact Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at aafc.agrimarketingagri-marketing.aac@agr.gc.ca for information on opportunities/supports for your business.
Companies operating in the ag tech or food tech sectors continue to be eligible under CanExport SMEs.
Consult Eligible sectors in the Applicant’s guide 2026-27 for more information.
In line with defence export promotion efforts and the Government’s forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, the CanExport SMEs program will place greater emphasis on supporting Canadian projects in the defence sector.
For applications targeting the defence market, please include “Defence” in the project title.
Note: Projects targeting the defence market will be processed within 60 business days.
Increased Per Diem rate to $600 per eligible traveler on approved travel (from the previous $400 per diem rate).
Certain activities are now eligible, including costs related to gas, parking, and tolls when using personal or company vehicle to travel and the creation of contractual agreements. The scope of certain eligible activities has been defined to provide clarification and guidance.
This table provides a comparative overview of the changes to be implemented ahead of the next CanExport SMEs program re-opening accompanied with a reference to relevant guidelines.
Guideline reference refers to the CanExport SMEs: Applicant’s guide 2026-27.
| Previous fiscal year 2025–2026 | Current fiscal year 2026–2027 | Guidelines reference |
|---|---|---|
| To be eligible, small or medium-sized enterprises must have between 1 and 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees and have between $100,000 and $100 million in annual revenue declared in Canada during their last complete tax reporting year. | To be eligible, small or medium-sized enterprises must have between 3 and 500 full-time employees and have between $300,000 and $100 million in annual revenue declared in Canada during their last complete tax reporting year. | Section 1. Who can Apply |
| Previous fiscal year 2025–2026 | Current fiscal year 2026–2027 | Guidelines references |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and agri-food: The program supports companies in this sector in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). Flagship events covered by AAFC's Canada Pavilion Program are not eligible for our funding. | CanExport SMEs no longer supports companies in the agriculture, agri-food (including alcohol and spirits) and agri-products sectors, including fish and seafood. For a detailed overview, please refer to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s sector overview. Interested stakeholders are invited to contact Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at aafc.agrimarketingagri-marketing.aac@agr.gc.ca for information on opportunities/supports for your business. Companies operating in the ag tech or food tech sectors continue to be eligible under CanExport SMEs. |
Section 4. Eligible sectors |
| n/a | New: In line with defence export promotion efforts and the Government’s forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy the CanExport program will prioritize (alternative language “will provide greater emphasis on supporting”) Canadian SME projects in the defence sector. If your project is in the defence sector or targeting customers/clients in the defence sector, please include “defence” in the Project title in your application. *To note: Projects targeting the U.S defence sector will be processed within 60 business days. |
Section 4. Eligible sectors |
| Previous fiscal year 2025–2026 | Current fiscal year 2026–2027 | Guidelines references |
|---|---|---|
Brazil, China, India, and the U.S. are segmented into sub-national markets. Each sub-national market counts as one choice for the maximum of 5 target markets per project. |
New: The program continues to support companies entering new international markets. Sub-market segmentation for Brazil, China, India, and the U.S. has been removed. Each country now counts as one target market toward the maximum of five per project. Eligibility is assessed for the country as a whole based on previous sales. |
|
| n/a | New: A greater emphasis will be placed on supporting Canadian companies to diversify their trade to non-U.S. markets. Approximately $31 million will be available in 2026–27 for international market activities. Of this total amount, approximately $3.1 million will support projects targeting the United States. The program aims to issue decisions within 60 business days from the date an application is submitted. For applications targeting the U.S. (with the exception of those in the defence sector), the program aims to issue decisions within 90 business days. |
| Previous fiscal year 2025–2026 | Current fiscal year 2026–2027 | Guidelines references |
|---|---|---|
| Per diem allowance: Up to $400 per day to cover accommodation, meals, and incidentals for each eligible traveller on approved travel. | Per diem allowance: Up to $600 per day to cover accommodation, meals, and incidentals for each eligible traveller on approved travel | Section 6. Expenses and activities Category A |
| Travel costs to conduct core activities such as training [...] are not eligible. | Travel costs to conduct training that consists of providing a presentation or demonstrating products/services as part of the market‑entry process are eligible. |
Section 6. Expenses and activities Category A |
| Use of a personal vehicle (employee or company vehicle) for transportation is not eligible. | Costs related to gas, parking, and tolls using a personal (employee or company vehicle) are eligible. Mileage and per diem for days traveling in Canada are not eligible. | Section 6. Expenses and activities Category A |
Only expenses related to the adaptation and translation of contractual agreements are eligible. |
Expenses related to the creation, adaptation and translation of contractual agreements are eligible. |
Category E |
| Previous fiscal year 2025–2026 | Current fiscal year 2026–2027 | Guidelines references |
|---|---|---|
Adapting a website: create a landing page for an existing website, adapt an existing website specifically for a target market |
Adapting a website: translate the existing or new website for use in the target market only. |
Section 6. Expenses and activities Category C |
Advertising related to participation in a trade event: advertise on an online industry publication/online magazine, sponsored content/advertorial or banner ads at a tradeshow or on a tradeshow website. |
Advertising related to participation in a trade show eligible under Category B as part of Sponsorship, with expenses limited to the lowest applicable tier/class that includes event visibility/advertising. |
Section 6. Expenses and activities Category C |
Category F supports consultant or legal fees for expert business, tax, or legal advice that support entry of the applicant's product(s) or service(s) into the target market(s) identified in the project. |
These activities must be limited exclusively to advice related to international business development, tax, legal, and regulatory issues. |
Category F |
Eligible costs include:
|
The scope of activities eligible under identification of key contacts and facilitation of B2B meeting programs and matchmaking is defined. |
Category G |
No definition of ‘in-market representative’ |
In-market representative: Consultant serving as an in-market representative and acting as an extension of the applicant organization, executing strategies and managing on-the-ground activities in the target market is not eligible. |
Category G |
