Canadians want to do business in the Netherlands: 'We now know who our real friends are'

Source 05-05-2025: https://nos.nl/artikel/2566151-canadezen-willen-zakendoen-in-nederland-we-weten-nu-wie-onze-echte-vrienden-zijn

A growing number of Canadian companies are being forced by the trade war with the United States to strengthen ties with other trading partners. They are focusing heavily on Europe, particularly the Netherlands, according to interviews NOS conducted with Dutch companies.

"Swapping American suppliers for European, or specifically Dutch, suppliers is easy to do. It's definitely something we're working towards," says Adam Barbolet, the trade diplomat at the Canadian Embassy in The Hague. "In difficult and challenging times like these, we've discovered who our true friends are."

Dutch companies are noticing growing interest from Canada. The trade diplomat also sees a "huge increase" in interest from Canadian companies in the Netherlands. "Canadian companies that haven't done business in the Netherlands are now contacting us with interest." Representatives from the Canadian business community are also traveling to the Netherlands to meet potential trading partners, he says.

'Strengthening relations with Europe'

Prime Minister Mark Carney, who won the Canadian election last week, also emphasized the importance of Canada's ties with Europe. "We've recovered from the shock of the American betrayal, but we must not forget the lessons," he said in his victory speech last week. "We must strengthen our relationships with trusted partners in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere."

A year ago, no one would have expected these words from a Canadian prime minister. Trade flows between the United States and Canada are deeply intertwined, and the US has been Canada's largest trading partner for centuries. This relationship has only strengthened in recent decades, but that changed rapidly after Trump returned to power on January 20th and clearly distanced himself from his northern neighbors.

The trade diplomat nuances the extent of Canada's economic ties with the US. "If you exclude services, we have a trade surplus with the US, and if you also exclude oil, it's not that much trade." That doesn't change the fact that the tariffs are painful, he adds.

Most Canadian companies are still waiting to see what happens, hoping the US will soon reverse its high import tariffs, but it's clear that the US is no longer a reliable trading partner for many. They hope to find this reliability and security in the Netherlands or elsewhere in Europe.

That's not the only thing that attracts Canadians. The Netherlands and Canada share values and both have a great passion for trade, says Barbolet.

Chickpeas and guns

Canadian companies are very interested in Dutch agricultural technology. Discussions are also underway about data storage, for example.

And the interest is mutual, according to trade diplomat Barbolet. More Dutch companies are also contacting him about doing business in Canada. They're looking for a replacement for the now more expensive American products.

The Netherlands imports agricultural products such as chickpeas and soybeans, as well as chemical products, from Canada. Conversely, the trade includes a large amount of agricultural machinery and pharmaceuticals. This trade is expected to increase in the coming years due to Trump's trade war.