At the celebration of OWIT–Toronto Chapter’s 25th Anniversary, we were proud to recognize and honour one of our founding members, Susan Baka, who has remained an unwavering advocate, mentor, and highly respected leader in the trade community.

Susan, Co-President and VP International of the Toronto Chapter, and Co-VP of Chapter Development for OWIT International, was presented with the Excellence in Global Trade Award.

This award is defined as: a woman who has achieved outstanding success in international trade. She demonstrates excellence in expanding markets, fostering global partnerships, and driving export growth. Through her leadership, innovation, and commitment, she serves as a role model for others pursuing success in global commerce.

We were also fortunate to hear heartfelt remarks from three women who have worked closely with Susan over the years. A special thank you to Anita Agrawal, Amesika Baeta, and Sue Rauth for sharing their reflections and highlighting Susan’s exceptional contributions to women in trade over the past 25 years.

Congratulations, Susan!

OWIT-Toronto was invited to the 2025 Ontario Economic Summit, which this year featured the thought-provoking theme of Leadership Across Borders. Political leaders, prominent bankers, and business executives all weighed in with insights on issues of the day, from Canada’s response to trade tensions with the US, to the transformative potential of AI. They had plenty to say about Canada’s move from reliance on one market to diversifying to other markets, about investments in AI, infrastructure, defence and critical minerals, and about the importance of Indigenous participation in the latter. Despite all the challenges of a rapidly changing global landscape, a definite consensus emerged that with challenges come opportunities.

OWIT-Toronto board members Megane Visette, Lilian Marins and Susan Baka and attended this year’s Toronto Global Forum, which provided insights on the global economy and trade landscape from many senior business and political leaders. Key messages included the need for governments to adapt to evolving economic and geopolitical change, and for Canada to balance close U.S. ties with broader diversification and reduce interprovincial trade barriers. Speakers also highlighted the rising notion of “Advantage North America,” the accelerating role of AI in productivity, and the surge in energy demand driven by the growth of data centres, advanced manufacturing, and EVs.

By Georgina Wainwright Kemdirim, Vice President Policy, OWIT-Ottawa

OWIT-Canada, which is OWIT-Ottawa and OWIT-Toronto jointly, delivered a submission to Global Affairs Canada on the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) on November 3, 2025, as part of the stakeholder outreach process.

In our submission, we noted the value of CUSMA for trade and investment and the importance of its renewal for Canada's prosperity and that of the entire region. We noted the many positive gender elements of the existing Agreement such as in the Labour and SME chapters, and reminded GAC of the Gender Based Analysis Plus of the final Agreement and the importance of reviewing that for opportunities to make the Agreement even stronger from a gender and inclusion point of view. We also encouraged Canada's negotiators to continue to be ambitious and seek a Trade and Gender chapter in the renewed CUSMA and other gender-related provisions across the agreement, as well as provisions that promote and protect the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples. We noted that there could be an opportunity to pursue a side agreement with Mexico on Trade and Gender if the USA was not amenable to such a chapter. We note that Mexico is a positive force on gender equality and has already signed on to the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement. There may be an opportunity with Mexico to do more.

We also expressed our interest as OWIT-Canada to work with Global Affairs Canada and the OWIT chapters in the United States and Mexico to further promote women's participation in trade. With experience that we already have in leading trade missions in the region, we would like to work together with government and OWIT partners to further strengthen women's participation in trade in the region. In our submission, we also reflected concerns expressed to us by OWIT-Canada members, following our outreach to them. Our submission concluded by presenting a summary of our 12 concrete recommendations to Global Affairs Canada to advance women’s participation in trade in North America and increased benefit from CUSMA, namely:

1. Continue to pursue an inclusive and sustainable approach to trade in its trade negotiations with the USA and Mexico;

2. Re-affirm commitment to the existing gender responsive and inclusive provisions across the CUSMA, including in the Labour and SME Chapters, and ensure that there is no backtracking or cuts to these or other provisions that advance gender equality and inclusion;

3. Seek new ambitious chapters on Trade and Gender, Trade and Indigenous Peoples, and Trade and Responsible Business Conduct, and add new gender provisions in the SME chapter;

4. Conduct an early, comprehensive and ongoing Gender Based Analysis Plus of the FTA, seek stakeholder views on the initial GBA Plus report, and publish results of what was heard to promote accountability and transparency;

5. Provide Gender and Trade Advisory Group members, all stakeholders and Indigenous Peoples with regular updates on the progress of negotiations so that we may support Canada’s negotiating strategy development and ensure an inclusive outcome that leaves no one behind;

6. Work with OWIT-Canada to engage OWIT chapters in the USA and Mexico so that women can more effectively benefit from the FTA, including Indigenous women;

7. Produce a plain language companion guide for the Rules of Origin Chapter so that SMEs may more easily understand the originating rules governing trade;

8. Ensure that CUSMA, and our trade policy in general, more effectively promotes environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation and resilience;

9. Track gender provisions achieved in CUSMA so that they can be effectively implemented, monitored and evaluated to better achieve gender results;

10. Establish a Women in Trade Knowledge Hub modelled on the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub funded by the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy;

11. Convene a Women in Trade Conference during the annual CUSMA SME Dialogue; and,

12. Increase the awareness of its CUSMA trade partners that tariffs disproportionately affect women and vulnerable populations.

Building on our continued support of CUSMA over the years, OWIT-Canada remains committed to working with all partners to advance the participation of women in trade in Canada and in the North American region, and we stand ready to support Global Affairs Canada in any way in the CUSMA review and any negotiations that may follow.

We had a lovely time meeting with various chambers. 

Alexis was a fabulous host.  Past President Audrey Ross gave remarks on behalf of OWIT Toronto. 

We look forward to our continuing partnership.  

OWIT Work Related to the G7

By Georgina Wainwright-Kemdirim, VP Policy, OWIT-Ottawa

OWIT-Canada (Ottawa and Toronto chapters) issued a policy statement for G7 consideration in advance of the G7 Summit hosted by Canada in Kananaskis, Alberta in June 2025.  Our statement aimed to meet the moment given the trade war with the United States and lack of specific recommendations related to trade in support of women workers, business owners, or consumers emerging from the W7 or B7 communiques.  OWIT-Canada’s policy statement, therefore, was focused on issues that would advance the interests of women in trade in G7 members. In the statement, we recommended the following key actions by the G7:

1. Ensure that women workers and business owners are not disproportionately affected by tariffs or counter measures.
2. Ensure that all trade agreements remove barriers to participation and benefit women in all their diversity.
3. Establish innovative policies and programs to support women business owners in their entrepreneurship journey and participation in trade.

The G7 did not adopt any of our recommendations as indicated in the Chair’s Summary.  The Chair’s Summary, however, did reference that G7 discussions were “informed by the recommendations of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC), which stressed the social and economic benefits of gender equality, and of all G7 engagement groups.” The GEAC recommended promoting gender equality to build more prosperous societies, and noted 70% of women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises have insufficient or no access to financial services, and the global financing gap for women entrepreneurs is estimated to be US$1.7 trillion, highlighting a significant, untapped economic opportunity.  As a member of the W7 engagement group this year, OWIT-Canada was able to ensure that the W7 include a recommendation to the G7 to “provide tailored support for women entrepreneurs and ensure their equal access to finance, markets, and procurement opportunities, including public procurement.”

OWIT-Toronto members are invited to visit the Canadian Women in Food (CWIF) Booth #1919 at this year’s GIC Show from October 28-29in Toronto. Connect with inspiring women-owned food brands from across Canada and discover innovative products making waves in grocery and foodservice. Tickets are just $60 each – request and purchase your ticket by emailing CWIF at info@canadianwomeninfood.ca. 

OWIT at Brazil Week 2025

By Lilian Marins

Ambassador Enio Cordeiro, Consul General of Brazil in Toronto, and Lilian Marins

OWIT Toronto was honoured to participate in Brazil Week 2025 in September, organized by our partner, the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce (BCCC). It brought together business leaders, policymakers, and trade experts to explore new possibilities for bilateral cooperation. Represented by board members Lilian Marins and Susan Baka, OWIT contributed to discussions that combined trade policy, economic opportunity, and the human dimension of international business. 

From the opening sessions, one message was clear: this is a pivotal moment to strengthen Brazil–Canada partnerships. Brazil has achieved record trade surpluses since 2023, exporting to more than 190 markets — a diversification strategy that has proven resilient even amid U.S. tariffs. At the same time, Canada remains one of the most open economies to foreign investment, with provinces such as Ontario and Quebec actively attracting FDI through agencies like Invest Ontario and Investissement Québec.

The data tells a compelling story: in 2024, Brazil exported nearly CAD 10B to Canada, mainly metals, sugar, chemicals, and agrifood products, while Canada exported CAD 2.5B to Brazil, with fertilizers, machinery, and aircraft at the forefront. Canadian FDI stock in Brazil exceeds CAD 20B, while Brazilian FDI in Canada is growing steadily, particularly in mining, clean tech, and innovation. In the first half of 2025 alone, Brazilian exports to Canada rose 25% year-over-year, reaching US$3.4B.

Sectoral discussions during Brazil Week pointed to natural complementarities:

• Energy & CleanTech: Canadian expertise in ESG mining and renewables aligns with Brazil’s ambitious energy transition.
• Agriculture & Food Security: Brazil, a global food powerhouse, depends on imports of potash — over 90% from Canada and Russia — underscoring the importance of critical minerals to global stability.
• Life Sciences & Innovation: Ontario’s biotech and medtech firms are already forging partnerships with Brazilian hospitals, demonstrating the potential for collaboration in healthcare innovation.
• Smart Mobility & Technology: From aerospace integration to AI-driven agritech, innovation is a natural bridge between both economies.

Yet Brazil Week was more than figures and sectors. It was about perspectives that shape the future of trade. A particularly striking moment came when a McCarthy Tétrault speaker observed:“If you want to see a war, leave people hungry. We will reach the point where it’s no longer about trade — it will be about life." This reminder resonated deeply with participants: trade is not an abstract concept, but a driver of food security, peace, and human well-being.

OWIT is proud to have been part of these conversations, which also highlighted the role of women in international trade. The presence of ApexBrasil, represented by Ana Paula Repezza, Renata Amaral, and Tatiana Prazeres, reaffirmed that empowering women leaders is not optional; it is essential to building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable trade systems.

After three days of discussions, one conclusion stood out: the Brazil–Canada relationship is not just about trade flows. It is about building bridges, both economic and cultural, as well as human. OWIT Toronto, through the active engagement of board members Lilian Marins and Susan Baka, was proud to contribute to this dialogue and to reaffirm its mission: ensuring that women are central to shaping the future of global commerce.

British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce (BCCTC)

Mairead Lavery, Martin Buckle,  Susan Baka and Gowling Partner Marcus Hinkley

As part of our commitment to collaborate with Chambers of Commerce in the city, OWIT-Toronto joined BCCTC’s Let’s Talk – Clearing the Path to International Trade event on October 1.  Hosted by Gowling, it featured BCCTC’s  VP Martin Buckle in conversation with Mairead Lavery, former President and CEO of EDC, who urged businesses and associations to weigh in on the debates around the 2026 CUSMA Review and advocate for the continuation of this free trade agreement that is so important to Canada.  Gowling’s Hunter Fox noted that the 2026 Review does not mean that the agreement will expire, but if the parties do not confirm acceptance of an extension for another six years, it will revert to an annual review which will create continued unpredictability that is damaging to  business confidence and  economic growth.

The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade (MEDJCT) is launching a new free exporter information series which will cover key topics for Ontario businesses interested in establishing or expanding their global presence. Join select speakers and subject matter experts to learn how to translate global challenges into growth opportunities.

Currently announced webinars include:

Sept. 9: Free Trade Agreements & Tariffs (register here)

• The first webinar will focus on how exporters can leverage Canada’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and implement practical strategies to offset the impacts of tariffs.

Oct. 23: Nearshoring & Supply Chain Realignment (register here)

• The second webinar will explore how nearshoring and supply chain adaptation can help Ontario businesses navigate global trade uncertainty.