Aid and Trade: How Does Canadian Official Development Assistance Affect Canadian Exports?
A new study from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) by Dr. Yiagadeesen (Teddy) Samy and PhD student Roy Wu sheds fresh light on a question gaining traction in Ottawa: does Canadian foreign aid help grow Canadian exports? At a time when the federal government aims to double non‑US exports by 2035 and interest in a trade‑development nexus (TDN) is rising, the findings offer timely evidence—and nuance.
The research, commissioned by Cooperation Canada, updates earlier work by Bhushan and Siauw‑Soegiarto (2017) and analyzes the relationship between Canadian Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Canadian exports across 155 partner countries from 1989 to 2024.
As Canada navigates fiscal pressures, global volatility, and the push for trade diversification, these findings offer evidence‑based guidance.
Publications
Aid and Trade: How Does Canadian Official Development Assistance Affect Canadian Exports? An Empirical Analysis
Full Study
How Does Canada’s Official Development Assistance Affect Its Exports?
Policy Brief