Trade and gender: The Canada-Vietnam story

The amount of 2-way merchandise trade between Canada and Vietnam increased by 23.4% in 2019, as compared to 2018—the last full year before preferential tariff treatment under CPTPP was applicable. In 2020, despite the onset of COVID-19, merchandise trade increased by 11.6% compared to 2019.

In 2020, Canada exported $737 million in goods to Vietnam and imported $8,170 million worth of goods.

In Canada, 5,391 jobs were directly or indirectly supported by merchandise exports to Vietnam in 2019, 1,686 of which were occupied by women.

Top 5 Industries: Number of direct and indirect jobs occupied by women that are supported by goods exports to Vietnam –

• Crop and animal production: 268 jobs
• Wholesale trade: 213 jobs
• Transportation and warehousing: 166 jobs
• Food manufacturing: 141 jobs
• Finance and insurance: 118 jobs

The number of Canadian businesses exporting goods to Vietnam in 2020 was 907, while the number of Canadian businesses importing goods from Vietnam was 2,652.

Women-owned and equally-owned businesses in 2017:

• Export value: 13.9%
• Import value: 17.3%
• Exporters: 18.7%
• Importers: 33.2%

Men-owned businesses in 2017:

• Export value: 86.1%
• Import value: 82.7%
• Exporters: 81.3%
• Importers: 66.8%

Women-owned and equally-owned Canadian businesses make up a larger portion of imports than exports, by both number of importers and value.

Notes:

• Women-, men- and equally-owned businesses refer to Canadian-controlled private corporations.
• The reported fractions are those for which data on gender ownership is available.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Employer-Employee Dynamics Database, Trade by Exporter Characteristics, Trade by Importer Characteristics and Canadian Merchandise Trade Database.