Canada-Peru relations

On this page

• Bilateral relations
• Trade relations
• Development
• Partnerships and organizations
• Canada-Peru fact sheet

Bilateral relations

Canada and Peru’s multifaceted and growing bilateral relations are marked by a commitment to democracy, multilateral cooperation, responsible resource management, and inclusive trade and investment. Cooperation in development, education, defence, security and culture strengthen our ties. In Peru, Canada is represented by our embassy in Lima. Peru is represented in Canada by their embassy in Ottawa and consulates in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

Trade relations

Peru is Canada’s second-largest bilateral trading partner in South and Central America and the third-largest destination for Canadian direct investment in the region. Canada’s merchandise exports to Peru climbed more than six fold in the last 20 years, reaching a record $1.1 billion in exports in 2021, while bilateral merchandise trade has grown from $462.3 million to $5.1 billion in 20 years. Bilateral commercial exchanges are bolstered by trade agreements, such as the Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement and Comprehensive Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership. Canadian foreign direct investment in Peru totaled $12.7 billion in 2021, mainly in mining, oil and gas and financial services.

Related links

• Trade and investment agreements
• Import / Export controls
• Doing business in Peru

Development

Canada has been a development partner since 1968. In the early 2000s, Canada and the Organization of American States (OAS), supported Peru’s return to democracy and strengthened its electoral and human rights institutions. Canada supported Peru’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s work related to the political violence and terrorism that affected the country in the 1980s and 1990s.

Peru is now a resource-rich, upper middle income country with great growth potential, two decades of macroeconomic success and significant reductions in poverty. Peru, however, still faces deep social inequality and poverty, particularly in rural areas, which were amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting lock-downs.

Canada’s international assistance has helped Peru respond to these challenges, through close to $31M in programming in 2020-21 delivered mainly through Global Affairs Canada’s multiple programs. These programs are aligned with recommendations made by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which Peru aspires to join. Support is being provided to various levels of government to improve accountability, transparency and efficiency in service delivery. Important public service reform is underway to improve human resource management as a core function of government, focused on a more effective and merit-based civil service.

Emphasis is also being placed on promoting a vibrant civil society and the protection of human rights, including indigenous populations, by advancing gender equality and women’s and girl’s rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights.

In line with the Peruvian government’s goal to reduce poverty by building a more inclusive and diversified economy, assistance is being provided to support the promotion and the protection of the rights of domestic workers and the efforts made to recognize, reduce and equally distribute paid and unpaid care work.

To support Venezuelan refugees and migrants and host countries, Canada organized an international donors’ conference in June 2021 and launched a new development programming across the region. As Peru hosts the second largest number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela, it benefits from Canada’s support, particularly in the areas of education, protection, health, and economic integration.

Peru has among the greatest biodiversity in the world, but is also among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. We are working together to advance environmental protection, encourage the adoption of climate-smart agriculture and promote nature-based solutions to address climate change. We support women’s leadership and empowerment in climate actions solutions, improve the livelihood of local Indigenous communities and promote the participatory management and use of natural resources, especially water. Global Affairs Canada’s Global Issues and Development Branch programs complements the Geographic Program through support to global environmental and climate funds with activities in Peru.

Canada also provides international assistance to Peru through Global Affairs Canada’s Inter-American Program, which addresses regional, multi-country or trans-boundary issues. This program supports in Peru efforts to increase access to sexual and reproductive health services and strengthening of the health system, strengthening of natural resource management and technical and vocational education and training in the extractive sector. Canada supports Peru efforts to reinforced its judicial system and parliaments.

Global Affairs Canada’s Partnerships for Development Innovation programs delivers targeted initiatives in Peru that are designed and implemented by Canadian civil society organizations in collaboration with local counterparts. Efforts focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, women-led small and medium enterprise participation in trade.

Related links

• The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives

Partnerships and organizations

To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Peru work closely in multilateral fora, such as:

• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• International Criminal Court (ICC)
• Open Government Partnership (OGP)
• Organization of American States (OAS)
• Pacific Alliance
• United Nations (UN)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• World Trade Organization (WTO)