To monitor the influence of international trade and investment agreements on the food environment and population nutrition in Canada.

Implementation of a revised version of the INFORMAS trade and investment monitoring protocol to guide descriptive analysis of quantitative trade and investment data over the period 1994 to 2020 as well as qualitative review of policy documents related to nutrition regulations and trade concerns.

Canada, which has 15 trade and investment agreements in force with 51 countries as of 2024.

Extensive tariff reductions occurred in 1995 with the introduction of the World Trade Organization, with minimal tariff reductions since that time. Tariff rates were generally highest on ultra-processed focus foods, though many countries gained tariff-free access over the study period. There were large surges in imports of dairy, meats, sugars, and soft drinks after joining the WTO, while exports of grains, dairy, sugars, processed meats, ready-meals, and sauces saw substantial growth. FDI into Canada’s food manufacturing sector increased consistently, reaching $32.6 billion in 2020-2022. Canada has raised several specific trade concerns at the WTO over other countries’ nutrition labelling policies and some of the challenged policies have subsequently been abandoned, modified, or delayed.

Increased trade and investment openness in Canada appears linked to changes in food imports, exports, and foreign investment that may impact the nutritional quality of food environments. Monitoring how trade agreements shape national food supplies is critical to developing trade policies that improve nutrition in alignment with public health goals at home and abroad.