A trusted and stable trading partner.
Victoria has strong trade, investment and people-to-people links with the U.S. and Canada. We share similar values and strategic interests with both countries.
Global Victoria's expert team of trade specialists led by our Commissioner to the Americas, Nigel Warren, can provide your business with in-market guidance. Connect with our team to learn how we can help your business successfully engage with the U.S. and Canada.
Market snapshot
The U.S. and Canada are highly competitive markets. If you’re an export-ready business considering entering the U.S., it’s essential to offer innovative and clearly differentiated products and services.
It’s also critical to have a well-researched and targeted market entry strategy. Exporters should consider the different regulations, business and consumer preferences that exist across the 50 U.S. States.
Canada, while a smaller market, can also be considered an access point to the U.S. (given the high integration between economies and the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA).
USA and Canada Insights Spring 2024
Global Partnerships in Health Technology
Victoria is a global leader in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, and research and innovation.
Our Victorian Government Trade and Investment leads for the Health and Life Sciences sectors in North America, Carolin McCaffrey and Sofia O’Hara, are actively helping Victorian companies to harness opportunities in the USA and Canada for business partnerships, clinical trial attraction, research collaborations and commercialisation.
October was a busy month with major medtech, digital health and biotechnology initiatives delivered by the team.
MTP Connect Australian Medtech Delegation to North America
Global Victoria was the major partner for the MTP-Connect Team Australia Medtech Delegation to North America in October 2024. The delegation visited Minnesota’s medtech sector including a visit to the Mayo Clinic Precinct in Rochester before travelling on to Toronto, Ontario for The MedTech Conference. While at the conference, MTP Connect signed an MoU with Minnesota’s Medical Alley.
To learn about the delegation and working together with partners in North America to foster global partnerships in health technology, listen to the MTPConnect Podcast episode.
ANDHealth HLTH US Delegation 2024
Also in October 2024, Global Victoria supported the ANDHealth Australian delegation that travelled to the HLTH USA conference in Las Vegas.
It was an opportunity to showcase Australian innovations and capabilities in the digital health sector, and for companies to gain insights and new connections to support their international expansion.
Ausbiotech 2024
In the last week of October, Victoria welcomed a large influx of international and Australian visitors to Melbourne for two national biotechnology industry conferences for which the Victorian Government was the host sponsor, AusBioInvest and AusBiotech 2024. Carolin McCaffrey and Sofia O’Hara from our Americas VGTI team were in Melbourne for these events connecting international delegates with stakeholders across the Victoria ecosystem.
Victorian Startup on the big stage at the VERGE Climate Tech Conference and Expo
Global Victoria participated in the Climate Salad Trade Mission to Northern California including the VERGE climate tech conference and expo.
Conry Tech, a Victorian start up with a vision to reinvent air conditioning with their groundbreaking technology, was one of 5 Victorian companies participating in the mission.
At the VERGE conference, Conry Tech won the Top Building Startup competition - beating out several other impressive startups. Voting was centred on the startup that would have the biggest impact on addressing the climate crisis. As a category winner, Conry Tech qualified to pitch their company in the finals on the VERGE “big stage”, providing an incredible opportunity to showcase their company to startup and VC community leaders in attendance.
All Energy conference
Global Victoria's Mitch Larsen, Trade Manager from the Victorian Government Trade and Investment office in the Americas, covering the energy sector, visited Melbourne in October to participate in the All Energy conference.
During his visit, Mitch met with Victorian businesses within the sector seeking to expand their presence in North America. Various opportunities exist for clean energy technologies in the region, which was also highlighted during VERGE.
Mitch also met with some of Victoria’s regional exporters, including Rubicon Water and Aquatec, based in Shepparton to discuss opportunities in North America.
Promoting new products and transformative technologies in the Mining Sector
In September, Global Victoria supported Victorian Mining, Equipment, Services and Technology (METS) companies at the MINExpo in Las Vegas.
The event provided opportunities to showcase Victorian products and transformative technologies that can help to increase productivity and safety in the mining sector.
Update on FDA Compliance and Regulatory Requirements for the Cosmetic Industry in the USA
Global Victoria recently partnered with Austrade to deliver its third webinar updating exporters on FDA compliance and regulatory requirements for the cosmetic industry in the USA.
The webinar was the last of a three part series related to the Modernization of the Cosmetics Regulation Act.
Forward look
J.P. Morgan Healthcare Week, San Francisco, 13-16 January 2025
Applications are open for Victorian companies to attend J.P. Morgan Healthcare Week.
This week-long event offers unparalleled opportunities to connect with key players, explore cutting-edge technologies, and forge partnerships that drive healthcare innovation.
Visit our webpage for more information and to apply. Applications close on 4 December 2024.
Team Canada Trade Mission
As part of the Canadian Government’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, a Team Canada Trade Mission will be coming to Australia from 17-21 February 2025, with delegates participating in technology and energy streams in Melbourne from 19-21 February 2025.
During the same week, senior business and government leaders will participate in the 9th edition of the Australia Canada Economic Leadership Forum (Aus Can Forum) which will be held in Sydney 16-18 February 2025. The theme will be Trusted Partners: Navigating the Future Together, discussing issues such as geo-political risks, critical minerals and metals, AI and cybersecurity, infrastructure, and the relevance of Indigenous economic inclusion.
North American delegates expected for major events coming to Victoria March 2025
Major events SportNXT and the Avalon Australian International Airshow are returning to Victoria in March 2025. Delegations from the Americas region are anticipated to be in attendance
Follow our USA and Canada team on LinkedIn
For regular updates on events and insights, follow our Victorian Government Trade and Investment office, USA & Canada LinkedIn
Previous regional insights
Key industries of opportunity for Victorian exporters
Health and Life Sciences
The North American health sector is significant. The U.S. life sciences sector, valued at over USD 200 billion, fuels worldwide innovation through its strong support for investment and reimbursement
The U.S. is the leading export market for the Victorian medical technologies and pharmaceuticals sector. We're assisting Victorian companies connect to opportunities related to biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medtech, digital health, and healthcare services .
With Victoria’s leading bio-medical precincts, clinical trial capabilities, and thriving health and medtech startup ecosystems, we're seeing an increase in the number of partnerships between Victorian and American enterprises.
Food and beverage
The U.S. is Victoria’s largest export market for meat products (valued at over A$1.5 billion exports in FY2023-24).
Approximately half of Victoria’s merchandise exports to Canada are agricultural products (top exports including meat, fruit, nuts, and alcoholic beverages).
The U.S. and Canada offer Victorian food and beverage manufacturers diversification and expansion opportunities across a range of product categories, including specialty, premium and emerging categories, such as native foods and alternative proteins.
Defence
Global Victoria’s defence specialist, based in Washington D.C. is available to assist Victorian companies to connect with key defence industry contacts and trade opportunities in the Americas.
The AUKUS agreement announced in 2021 will build on the long-standing trilateral ties between Australia, the US and the UK and presents exciting opportunities for Victorian defence businesses.
Digital technologies
Digital technologies are a key accelerator and driver of economic growth and recovery. The U.S. is the largest tech market in the world, estimated to be worth approximately US$1.8 trillion in 2022.
In addition to the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and New York, emerging tech clusters across North America include Denver, Austin, Miami, Frisco, Raleigh-Durham in the US and Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal and Waterloo in Canada.
Key sub-sectors include Fintech, Sportstech, Edtech, Cybersecurity, plus the application of technologies such as robotics, digitalisation, blockchain and AI across industrial value chains.
Consumer products and eCommerce
The U.S. is the largest consumer market in the world, and eCommerce is booming providing opportunities for Victorian companies looking to sell their products online.
Engaging with social media influencers is increasingly important to succeed in selling online in the U.S., and due to the sheer size of the market, companies should be aware that high volumes of products can be demanded by suppliers and distributors.
The US selective beauty industry generated US$21 Billion is 2021, a 30 per cent increase in dollar sales versus 2020, and 17 per cent growth in the first half of 2022 compared to 2021.
Mining and METS, Infrastructure, Energy and Transportaion
Canada is a global mining leader and many Victorian headquartered mining companies and Victorian METS are active in the region. Our team is also exploring opportunities for Victorian companies related to infrastructure, transportation and energy projects in the US and Canada.
Contact us
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