What can Catalonia get out of the State's trip to Canada?

MadridIt is the third time that the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Spain, Carlos Cuerpo, makes an official trip to Canada seeking to strengthen bilateral economic relations, but the first in which the King of Spain, Felipe VI, attends. The monarch's presence on the trip, which starts this Tuesday and will last until Thursday, coincides with the North American country's rapprochement with Europe at a time when relations with the United States, one of its main trading partners, have been altered by the tariff threats of the Donald Trump administration, as well as the threat of turning Canada into an annexed state.

The Spanish government is aware, just as they are aware that the commercial link between the State and Canada is rather "discreet," according to government sources. Therefore, the current moment is seen as ideal for trying to change and boost it, both in terms of trade (imports and exports) and investments. And the one that has an advantage is Catalonia, which accounts for a large part of the economic weight of exports and imports for the State as a whole. As an example, of the total Spanish imports and exports to Canada in the year 2024 (the last year with available data), Catalonia accounted for 15.4% and 15.1%, respectively.

In fact, Canada is one of the 10 markets with the most potential for Catalan companies' exports, according to Acció sources to el ARA, who also see in the current context – this rapprochement of the North American country with Europe – a "great window of opportunity for Catalan companies." Currently, there are 850 registered Catalan companies that regularly export to Canada with upward commercial relations, as demonstrated by the fact that in the last 10 years, exports from Catalonia to the North American country have grown by more than 70%.

"[In Canada] A perception of excessive dependence on the United States has been established", believe those in the Spanish government. In fact, the neighboring country is its main supplier (49.5%). This, in the opinion of Pedro Sánchez's executive, has led to an alignment between Canada and the EU regarding multilateralism and the need to diversify trading partners to avoid falling into dependence on major powers such as the United States, Russia, or China. But also to an alignment regarding "values". The Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has precisely been one of the toughest leaders against the President of the USA, and at theDavos Forum he called on "intermediate powers" to ally themselves to have a say in international affairs. "We see an opportunity to strengthen the relationship", indicate those in government.

However, economic relations between the State and Canada increased following the trade agreement with the EU signed in 2017: the so-called CETA. A treaty, however, which still has a provisional character because some countries have not ratified it. As for goods exports, they reached 2,235 million euros in 2025. These include capital goods (machinery and mechanical apparatus), pharmaceuticals, especially due to the Catalan contribution, and organic chemical products. In any case, all categories are small, meaning it is a highly diversified and unconcentrated export. Imports of products to the State as a whole stood at 2,931 million euros, with fuels, oils, and raw materials such as minerals at the forefront. The balance, therefore, is negative for Spain, although the balance is offset when observing the commercial relationship of services. In terms of investment, the weight is very small and in the case of Spanish investment in Canada, even non-existent.

In the case of Catalonia, the sectors of the Catalan economy that have the most potential for growth are agri-food, machinery and capital goods, ICT solutions –cybersecurity, AI, video games– and green technology solutions such as carbon storage and energy efficiency, explain from ACCIÓ. In fact, from this trip, the Spanish government is primarily interested in strengthening trade relations around hydrocarbons and raw materials – for example, certain critical minerals –, as well as in technology, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, or advances in defense and cybersecurity, and in companies like Indra, which already has a significant presence in the country, being able to continue growing.

Until now, the most important and stable presence of Spanish companies in the North American country has been around infrastructure and logistics, collaborating in the construction of roads, transport infrastructure, and the railway sector. "What we want is to go beyond that," indicate government sources. However, the trip, which will be led by Felipe VI, will also be attended by the Secretary of State for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla, as well as a delegation with representatives of Spanish companies and which will include the presence of the president of the Spanish employers' association CEOE, Antonio Garamendi.