Trade Agreements

Canadian public procurement is shaped by trade agreements including the Canadian Free Trade Agreement domestically and international agreements such as CETA and the CPTPP. They set obligations around open advertising, non-discrimination between suppliers, and minimum timelines.

Tender notices usually identify which agreements apply. This is more useful to suppliers than it first appears: it signals how open the competition is required to be, what minimum bidding period applies, and whether suppliers from other jurisdictions can compete.

Applicable value thresholds are adjusted periodically. Always check the current figures from the official source rather than relying on a number seen previously.