The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) facilitates international trade to help break down barriers and level the playing field so Canadian business can compete successfully in the global economy.
The world of trade is changing. Today, customers around the globe are often as important to a company’s success as those in the same country. And for businesses to compete in today’s global economy, they need to understand the value of international standards and how they support international trade.
As the leader of Canada’s standardization network, SCC works with Canadian companies, large and small, to help them get the most out of standardization, so that they can bring their innovative ideas and products to the world.
SCC’s work supports Canada’s trade diversification priorities
When SCC works with our trade partners to improve standardization alignment and the mutual recognition of conformity assessment procedures and regulatory requirements, we make it easier for Canadian businesses to compete internationally.
We also build and strengthen Canada’s relationships with other countries and regional and international standardization bodies to support the foundation for alignment and mutual recognition. These strong relationships are part of the first step toward new international trade agreements.
Opening the Doors of Trade for Canadian Business
The international trade arena is more complex and competitive than ever before. Some estimates contend that approximately 80 per cent of world trade today is affected by standards. This means Canadian businesses face more stringent legal, technical and regulatory requirements than they did in the past.
Standards are the key to success because they can help Canadian companies to
- access markets and sell to customers in other countries
- reduce costs, increase revenue and enhance productivity
- manage and reduce risk
- gain a competitive edge
- foster and support innovation
- support environmental objectives and sustainability
The alignment of requirements through the use of international standards does not just help large exporters; it also helps businesses of any size and sector. In fact, standards can be particularly beneficial for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) because they need to:
- work harder to prove themselves and compete against larger companies
- gain customers’ confidence and keep them satisfied
Increased use of international standards and the mutual recognition of conformity assessment between Canada and its trading partners helps to level the playing field and inspire confidence in products and services. Ultimately, it can set Canadian businesses apart from the competition and help them scale up and go global.