Canada-Germany relations
On this page
Bilateral relations
Canada and Germany enjoy a close and friendly partnership, reflected in our active cooperation on the international stage as well as our healthy trade and investment relations. Canada and Germany are like-minded global partners and allies with a shared commitment to bolstering multilateralism and the rules-based international order, including most recently through the Alliance for Multilateralism. Long-standing partners in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), we cooperate closely on security and defence issues, and are also both members of the G7 and G20, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). In these, and other international organizations, we champion common values and interests in areas such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law, international peace and security, global trade, and the environment and combatting climate change.
To further enhance the already strong bilateral Canadian-German relations, the German-Canadian High Level Steering Group on Bilateral Cooperation was established in September 2021. The Steering Group brings together senior officials from the German and Canadian federal governments to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of fields, including peace and security; climate change, energy and natural resources; and, innovation, digitalization and the economy. The Steering Group meets annually and last met in May 2024.
The Embassy of Canada to Germany is situated in the heart of Berlin where the Berlin Wall used to divide the eastern and western parts of the city. Canada has consulates in the cities of Munich and Düsseldorf as well as an Honorary Consul in Stuttgart. Those consulates focus on assistance to Canadians as well as trade promotion and investment relations.
In Canada, Germany is represented by its embassy in Ottawa, and maintains consulates in Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Goethe Institut also maintain offices in Canada.
There is also cooperation between Canadian provinces and German federal states, such as Alberta with Saxony, Manitoba with Hamburg, Ontario with Baden-Württemberg, and Quebec with Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hamburg and Saxony. Saskatchewan opened an office at the Embassy in Berlin in June 2023. Ontario maintains an office in the Munich consulate, while Quebec maintains offices in both Berlin and Munich.
Cultural relations
Both countries benefit from their strong cultural connections and people-to-people contacts. Almost 3 million Canadians claim at least partial German ancestry and about 400,000 Canadians travel to Germany each year. A similar number of Germans travel to Canada annually.
Academic links are also vibrant. Every year, several thousand German students spend a term or full year at a Canadian college, university or high school. Thousands more young Germans and Canadians travel in each direction for short-term study and research or work as part of the International Experience Canada program.
Canada and Germany cultivate an active cultural exchange. Many Canadian artists became an integral part of German cultural life and German artists are active in Canada. A cultural agreement between Canada and Germany was signed in 1975.
In October 2021, Governor General Mary Simon visited Germany on her first State Visit, where she led the official delegation under Canada's "Guest of Honour" designation at the prestigious Frankfurt Book Fair.
Trade relations
Germany, which in 2024 had the largest economy in the European Union (EU) and the third largest in the world, is a key economic partner for Canada.
It is Canada’s largest merchandise export market in the EU, and its sixth-largest trading partner globally, with two-way merchandise trade totaling $30.5 billion in 2024.
Two-way trade has grown significantly since the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the EU was signed in 2016 (it has been provisionally applied since September 2017). Germany formally ratified CETA on January 20, 2023.
Canadian exports to Germany were worth $6.8 billion in 2024, while Canada’s imports from Germany were $23.8 billion. Combined, this represents an increase of 41% since pre-CETA levels. Sectors of interest include aerospace, advanced manufacturing, automotive, life sciences, information and communications technologies, and agri-food. Canada’s top merchandise exports in 2024 included machinery and equipment, mineral fuels and oils, mineral ores, inorganic chemicals and precious stones and metals.
In 2024, total two-way Germany-Canada services trade (which includes travel and tourism) amounted to $8.7 billion, representing an increase of 68.6% compared to pre-CETA levels.
Germany remains Canada's eleventh-largest foreign investor, with a direct investment stock valued at CAD $24.6 billion. Among European countries, Germany is the sixth-largest investor in Canada. Conversely, Canadian direct investment abroad (CDIA) was approximately CAD $16.2 billion in 2024, positioning Germany as the seventh-largest recipient of CDIA in Europe.
In 2024, Germany was Canada’s sixth-largest merchandise trading partner and 11th largest FDI source in the country.
Beyond trade and investment, Canada and Germany enjoy a dynamic relationship in science, technology and innovation (STI). Since the 1971 signing of the bilateral S&T Agreement there have been more than 1,500 joint research projects across the whole spectrum of research. These projects bring together multiple stakeholders: governments, research institutes, universities, non-profits and private sector entities. Several German national research institutes (e.g. Max Planck, Helmholtz, Leibniz and Fraunhofer) have established research partnerships with Canadian institutions that address the commercialization of research and development (R&D).
Canadian and German researchers also collaborate as part of research projects funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe, the largest collaborative R&D program in the world. The formal agreement for Canada's association to Horizon Europe was signed in July 2024.
Canada and Germany are co-chairs of the Eureka Council for 2024-25. They co-chaired the Eureka Global Innovation Summit, which was held in April 2025 in Hannover, Germany.
From March 31 to April 4, 2025, Canada took center stage as the partner country at Hannover Messe, the world's leading trade show for advanced manufacturing technologies. At this event, up to 250 Canadian companies showcased their talent, innovation and commitment to advancing innovative manufacturing solutions that are green, digital and resilient.
Further information
Related links
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Germany work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- G7
- G20
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN)
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- Open Government Partnership (OGP)
- Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Date modified:
