Last reviewed 2026-10-20
First edition, partly verified. Every rule here links to the source we opened, and what we could not confirm is listed in the “not verified” section near the end. An independent legal and tax review is still to come: treat this as a research starting point.
This guide is for Canadian owners and managers who want Japanese customers, and for people in Japan who want to buy from, hire or partner with Canadians (section 12). Everything here comes from pages we opened on 2026-10-20. Where we could not open a primary source, the point is listed in section 14 instead of being filled in from memory. Japanese-language rules often exist only in the Japanese original; English government translations are reference material.
Related guides: Find buyers, trade shows and trade missions, Export goods from Canada, Sell software and digital services across borders, Get paid from abroad: FX and payments, Export funding and financing map, Diversify beyond the US.
1. At a glance
| Item | What we confirmed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian goods exports to Japan, 2024 | About C$15 billion | Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), Doing business in Japan |
| Canadian goods imports from Japan, 2024 | About C$21.1 billion | TCS |
| Rank | Japan is Canada's fifth-largest trading partner by bilateral merchandise trade | TCS |
| Canadian agri-food and seafood exports, 2024 | About C$4.9 billion; Japan is the third-largest market for these products | TCS |
| Investment | Japan's FDI stock in Canada C$48.2 billion; Canadian direct investment in Japan about C$3.8 billion | TCS |
| Trade agreement | Both are members of the CPTPP, which eliminates or reduces tariffs on most key Canadian exports to Japan | TCS |
| Tax treaty | Canada-Japan convention signed 1986-05-07; protocol signed 1999-02-19, in force 2000-12-14; modified by the multilateral instrument (MLI) | Finance Canada consolidated text, Japan MOF |
| Currency and language | Yen (JPY): NTA thresholds and JETRO fees are stated in yen. Company registration procedures are carried out in Japanese | NTA, JETRO |
| Japanese consumption tax | Standard rate 10% (7.8% national + 2.2% local); reduced rate 8% for most food and drink (not alcohol or dining out) | NTA |
Time zone: not verified in this guide (section 14). Check the offset before booking calls.
The agri-food figures differ slightly by source: Japan's own import data put imports from Canada at C$5.3 billion in 2024, and the same report gives Canada's export figure as C$4.9 billion (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada). Use ranges, not a single number, when you quote these.
2. Where Canadians win
We only list sectors with evidence in a primary source.
| Sector | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Agri-food and seafood | Top 2024 products Japan imported from Canada: fresh or chilled pork (C$1.2 billion), wheat (C$798.8 million), canola seed (C$718.3 million), soybeans (C$392.9 million), frozen bone-in pork (C$272.7 million). The top 10 products were 76.1% of supply | AAFC |
| Provinces in agri-food | Alberta 28.7% of agri-food exports to Japan, Manitoba 19.3%, Saskatchewan 18.8% | AAFC |
| Energy and minerals | Canadian exports include coal, LPG, copper, iron ore and nickel. Japan imports most of its energy and is interested in LNG, LPG, hydrogen and ammonia from Canada | TCS |
| Forest products | Exports named by the TCS; growth areas include engineered wood, mass timber and wood pellets. CPTPP eliminates all Japanese tariffs on forest and value-added wood products | TCS, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) |
| Pharmaceuticals | Named among Canadian export strengths | TCS |
| Consumer goods | About C$200 million a year in exports, helped by Japan's positive view of Canadian products (TCS wording) | TCS |
| Growth sectors the TCS highlights | Advanced manufacturing, aerospace, cleantech, ICT, life sciences, mining and critical minerals | TCS |
Read the table as "where Canadian trade is today", not as proof that your product will sell. EDC's 2018 commentary described Japan's growth as around one per cent a year but the market as valuable (EDC, 2018 article, may be outdated).
3. Services versus goods, and local entities
3.1 Goods
Goods sold to Japan are imported into Japan by the importer, usually with a customs broker filing the declaration (section 6). You can often sell through a Japanese importer or distributor without any Japanese entity of your own.
3.2 Services
Under the treaty, business profits are taxable only in your home country unless you carry on business through a permanent establishment in the other country (section 3.4). Two things change quickly once you travel or hire there: tax presence and immigration status (section 8). Digital services have their own consumption tax rules (section 4.2).
3.3 Entity options in Japan
JETRO's setup guide compares the main routes:
| Representative office | Branch | KK (joint-stock company) | GK (LLC-type company) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Separate legal entity | No | No, part of the foreign company | Yes | Yes |
| What it may do | Preparatory and supporting work such as market research, purchasing, advertising. Sales are not permitted | Business activity in Japan | Full business operations | Full business operations |
| Liability | Not specified | Foreign company is ultimately liable for debts | Limited to investment | Limited to investment |
| Registration | None required | Required; costs start at about JPY 100,000 | Required; costs start at about JPY 250,000 | Required |
| Typical timing | Can be set up without registration | Once office, representative and information are in place | Procedures typically about three months | Not stated |
Further points from JETRO's setup guide and JETRO's entity comparison: - A branch needs at least one Japan-resident representative. It has no capital requirement. Owner liability is unlimited. - A KK and a GK can be formed with capital of at least JPY 1. A KK generally requires an annual shareholders' meeting; a GK does not. A GK allows profit allocation that differs from ownership shares if the articles say so. - A branch is, in principle, taxed only on income arising in Japan. A KK or GK is taxed on its own profits, and owners are taxed on distributions or allocated profits. - Notification of inward direct investment to the Bank of Japan is required for businesses in certain specified industries, whatever the entity type. - Professional fees for forming a company are typically JPY 200,000 to 500,000 on top of registration costs, and JETRO recommends using an attorney, judicial scrivener or administrative scrivener because procedures are in Japanese.
3.4 Permanent establishment (PE)
Under the Canada-Japan treaty (Finance Canada consolidated text): - A PE is a fixed place of business through which the business is wholly or partly carried on (Art. 5). Branches and offices are listed examples. - A building site or installation project is a PE only if it lasts more than 12 months. - Preparatory or auxiliary activities and storage or display facilities do not by themselves create a PE. - A dependent agent who habitually concludes contracts for you can create a PE. Independent brokers and agents acting in the ordinary course of their business generally do not. - Business profits are taxable only in your home country unless you carry on business through a PE, and then only the profits attributable to the PE (Art. 7). - Income from independent professional services is taxable only in the home country unless you have a fixed base regularly available in the other country (Art. 14).
The MLI added a principal purpose test and other changes (Japan MOF). Both sources say their synthesised text is reference only. Ask a tax adviser to test your actual fact pattern (employees on the ground, a local agent, a long project) before you rely on the treaty.
4. Tax
4.1 Treaty withholding-tax caps
The treaty caps what the source country may withhold. These caps apply to payments in either direction.
| Payment | Cap | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dividends | 5% if the beneficial owner is a company holding at least 25% of the voting shares for the six months before the end of the accounting period; otherwise 15% | Art. 10 |
| Interest | 10% of the gross amount; exemptions for certain government bodies, central banks and wholly government-owned financial institutions | Art. 11 |
| Royalties | 10% of the gross amount (copyright, patents, trademarks, secret formulas, equipment rentals, certain technical information) | Art. 12 |
Japan's MOF summary says MLI provisions affecting withholding taxes apply to events on or after 2020-01-01, and other provisions apply to taxable periods beginning on or after 2020-06-01 (Japan MOF). The treaty cap is a ceiling; Japan's domestic rates and the paperwork needed to claim the reduced rate were not verified (section 14). The Finance Canada page is archived and flagged as unofficial; use the authentic treaty text for any filing.
4.2 Japanese consumption tax on cross-border services
From the National Tax Agency (NTA) electronic services guide, July 2024 and the NTA cross-border guide: - Since 2015-10-01, whether an electronic service is taxable in Japan depends on where the recipient is (domicile for individuals; head or main office for companies). Reasonable methods such as card-issuing country are accepted for checking. - Covered electronic services include e-books, music, video, software, cloud services, online advertising, marketplace access and online English lessons. Pure telecommunications and services that are only incidental to a wider transaction (for example software development) are not covered. - B2B (reverse charge). For services normally limited to businesses (for example internet advertising or individually negotiated business contracts), the Japanese business customer files and pays the tax. The foreign provider must notify the customer in advance. A service that accepts consumer sign-ups is treated as B2C even with a "business use" notice. - B2C. The foreign provider files and pays Japanese consumption tax. Japanese business customers can claim input credit only if the provider is a registered foreign business. - Small-business exemption. Taxable sales of JPY 10 million or less in the base period are generally exempt. For a foreign business offering only electronic services, only B2C sales count. A registered foreign business is not exempt. - Tax agent. A foreign business with no domicile, residence, head office or office in Japan must appoint a tax agent. - Platform taxation. From 2025-04-01, for B2C electronic services sold through a designated platform, the platform operator files and pays the tax and issues the qualified invoices.
4.3 Qualified invoice system
Since 2023-10-01, Japanese businesses claiming input tax credits generally need a "qualified invoice" from a registered issuer. NTA's registration notes say: - A foreign business that sells taxable assets in Japan and wants to issue qualified invoices applies to the district tax office. If it has no office in Japan, it must name a tax agent and attach the certificate of tax proxy authority. - Only taxable businesses can register; registration makes the business taxable regardless of sales, and the tax office needs an examination period, so apply well ahead of the first sale. - Changes and cancellation each need a separate notice.
Practical effect: Japanese B2B customers may ask for your registration number. Whether that matters for your specific sale depends on whether the sale is taxable in Japan and whether the buyer claims credit; the NTA pages we opened do not settle that for every case. The NTA registration portal is Japanese-only (EU-Japan Centre summary).
4.4 The Canadian side
- GST/HST on services to non-residents. A service supplied to a non-resident is zero-rated under section 7 of Part V of Schedule VI unless an exclusion applies (for example an individual who is in Canada, or services in respect of real or tangible property in Canada). Advisory and professional services are excluded from section 7 but may be zero-rated under other sections such as 23. You must keep the evidence (CRA GST/HST Memorandum 4-5-3, December 2023).
- Foreign tax credits, reporting of foreign income and treaty claim paperwork were not verified (section 14).
What to ask an accountant
- Do my activities in Japan create a PE under Art. 5, or a fixed base under Art. 14?
- Is my service taxable in Japan, and who files: me or the customer?
- Do I need to register as a qualified invoice issuer, and do I need a tax agent?
- What Japanese withholding applies to my royalty or interest, and what must I file to claim the treaty cap?
- How do I zero-rate my Canadian GST/HST and document it?
5. Legal and contracts
5.1 Enforcing a Canadian court judgment in Japan
Under Art. 118 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as summarised by Global Legal Post: - The judgment must be final and binding; the foreign court must have had jurisdiction under Japanese principles; the defendant must have been properly served or appeared; and the judgment must not offend Japanese public policy. - Reciprocity is required: the originating jurisdiction must recognise and enforce Japanese judgments in a substantially equivalent way. - Punitive damages are not enforceable; the court may enforce the remainder. - Service outside the Hague Service Convention (for example direct delivery or mail) often leads to refusal. - Enforcement proceedings should start within 10 years. Japan is not a party to the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention.
Whether a particular Canadian province's judgments meet the reciprocity test was not verified (section 14). This is a reason to consider arbitration.
5.2 Arbitration
Japan is a party to the 1958 New York Convention, and enforcement of awards is governed by the Japanese Arbitration Act (Global Legal Post). We could not open the websites of arbitration institutions (such as the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association), so we do not describe their rules.
5.3 Governing law and language
We found no primary source that sets out limits on choosing Canadian or other foreign governing law in contracts with Japanese counterparties. Treat the choice of governing law, forum and contract language as a lawyer's decision (section 14). JETRO notes that company registration procedures must be done in Japanese (JETRO).
5.4 Privacy: the APPI
- Before giving personal data to a third party in another country, a business generally needs the individual's consent after giving information about the foreign system and the recipient's safeguards. Exceptions apply where the recipient has a system meeting Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) standards or the country is recognised as equivalent (APPI, English translation). The English translation is reference only.
- On 2025-12-12 the PPC amended its guidelines to treat the Global CBPR System as meeting the transfer requirements. Adequacy has been given to the UK and the EEA (Baker McKenzie, 2026-01-15).
- The PPC lists memoranda of cooperation with the UK, Canada, the Philippines and Singapore; these concern cooperation, not data-transfer rules (PPC). We did not find a Japanese adequacy decision for Canada.
- On 2026-01-09 the PPC adopted a system reform policy from its triennial review (PPC). We could not read its content or the status of any bill.
For Canada's own rules see Privacy and data rules for Canada.
5.5 Payment protection: the Subcontract Act (now the Proper Transactions Act) and the Freelance Act
- The Subcontract Act amendment was passed on 2025-05-16 and takes effect 2026-01-01 (JFTC). According to DLA Piper, it is now the "Proper Transactions Act": it covers manufacturing, repair, information-based product creation, service and specified transport contracts; applies by capital or headcount thresholds (for example a main contractor with capital over JPY 300 million and a contractor with JPY 300 million or less); requires written terms and payment within 60 days of receipt; sets late-payment interest at 14.6% a year; and bars payment by promissory notes that make full payment by the due date difficult.
- The Freelance Act took effect 2024-11-01. It covers businesses that entrust work to freelancers (no employees), requires written terms and, for entrusting businesses that use employees, payment within 60 days (Legal 500).
- Neither source says whether these laws reach a Canadian contractor working for a Japanese client from Canada. Ask Japanese counsel (section 14).
What to ask a lawyer
- Which governing law and forum should I choose, and will a Japanese court or arbitrator respect it?
- Can a judgment from my province be enforced in Japan, or should I use arbitration?
- Does the Proper Transactions Act or the Freelance Act protect me, and do payment terms need changing?
- If I collect personal data from people in Japan, do I need consent, and how do I handle transfers to Canada?
6. Customs, tariffs and standards
6.1 CPTPP tariffs
GAC's CPTPP partner page for Japan lists these examples:
| Product | Original Japanese tariff | Timeline under CPTPP |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen blueberries, snow crab, lobster, worked wood, aluminum products | Up to 9.6%, 4%, 5%, up to 7.5%, up to 7.5% | Eliminated at entry into force |
| Canola oil | Up to 13.20 yen/kg | Within 5 years |
| Salmon | Up to 3.5% | Within 10 years |
| Iron and steel | Up to 6.3% | Within 10 years |
| Pork | Up to 20% plus gate price system | Within 10 years |
| Lumber | 6% | Within 15 years |
| Plywood and veneer panels | Up to 10% | Within 15 years |
| Beef | 38.5% | Reduced to 9% within 15 years |
- Pork gate price: pork imported below a government-set reference price pays the difference between the import price and the gate price, in addition to ordinary tariffs.
- Wheat: Canada has a country-specific annual food-wheat quota that starts at 40,000 tonnes and rises to 53,000 tonnes within six years of entry into force.
- The page does not cover rules of origin. You need to meet them to claim preferential rates, so read the CPTPP text or ask a customs broker (section 14). The page is not dated; check current staging for your tariff line.
6.2 Import procedure in Japan
Per Japan Customs: anyone importing goods declares them and obtains an import permit after examination and payment of duty; the declaration is made, in principle, by the person importing the goods; customs brokers usually file as proxy; documents include the invoice, bill of lading or air waybill and certificates of origin where applicable. Goods that need approval under other laws (for example quarantine, foreign exchange and trade control) need a certificate of application. Your Japanese buyer is usually the importer of record, so agree on who does what in the contract. Consumption tax at import is not covered by that page (section 14).
6.3 Labelling and standards
We did not open a primary source on Japanese product standards or labelling (for example JIS, electrical safety or food rules). Ask the Japanese importer and a customs broker early, because they decide whether your product can be imported at all. See section 14.
7. Getting paid and FX
- Invoices and Japanese tax: see sections 4.2 and 4.3.
- Payment terms: under the Proper Transactions Act the main contractor must pay within 60 days of receiving goods or services, if the Act applies to you (section 5.5).
- Credit and currency tools: EDC lists trade credit insurance, an Export Guarantee Program, a Foreign Exchange Facility Guarantee, buyer financing and market intelligence for Asia-Pacific (EDC). The EDC page does not mention Japan specifically.
- Bank transfer routes, yen invoicing and Japanese foreign-exchange reporting rules were not verified (section 14).
See also Get paid from abroad: FX and payments and Insurance, credit and payment risk for exporters.
8. People and visas
8.1 Short trips
- Canadian passport holders do not need a visa to enter Japan as temporary visitors (Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver, FAQ). Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists Canada among visa-exempt countries with a period of stay on landing of 90 days (MOFA).
- Under the CPTPP guide, a short-term business visitor can stay up to 90 days to negotiate sales of goods or services, cannot earn remuneration in Japan, cannot sell directly to the public, and does not need a work permit (TCS guide to temporary entry, Japan).
- A visitor generally cannot switch to a work visa after arriving in Japan, except in special circumstances (Vancouver consulate FAQ).
8.2 Longer stays under the CPTPP temporary entry guide
Eligible: Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Information is current as of May 2023 per the page, last modified March 2026.
| Category | Maximum stay | Main conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Intra-corporate transferee | Up to 5 years, extensions possible | Employed by the Canadian enterprise at least one year; transferred to a Japanese branch, representative office or affiliate; in a managerial or specialised role |
| Investor (business manager) | Up to 5 years | Invests in and manages a business in Japan, or manages one for a non-Japanese investor |
| Qualified professional | Up to 5 years | Holds a recognised Japanese qualification in legal, accounting or tax services |
| Independent professional | Up to 5 years | Personal contract with a Japanese enterprise for specialised work in listed fields |
| Contractual service supplier | Up to 5 years | Employee of a Canadian enterprise with no commercial presence in Japan, under a service contract with a Japanese enterprise |
Spouses and children can accompany people in these categories (not short-term visitors) if Japan's requirements are met. JETRO notes that capital of JPY 30 million or more is one requirement for the Business Manager status (JETRO). Fees and processing times were not listed; apply through the Japanese embassy or consulate for your region.
8.3 Working holiday for Canadians
- Canadians aged 18 to 25 at application (the limit can be extended to 30 if both countries' authorities agree) who live in Canada and have no dependants can apply. Employment must be incidental to the holiday; bars, cabarets, nightclubs and gambling establishments are barred. Since 2024-12-01 Canadians can take two non-consecutive one-year stays or one two-year stay, and can take part twice in a lifetime (MOFA).
- The visa is single-entry and free of charge. Applications go through the embassy or consulate for your region by appointment, or through approved organisations that charge a service fee (Embassy of Japan in Canada).
- A working holiday is not a route to run a business. If you mainly intend to work, you cannot apply; the Vancouver consulate says to look at a work visa instead.
For Canadians hiring from Japan, see Work remotely for a foreign employer from Canada.
9. Business practice
We did not open a primary or credible source that documents Japanese business etiquette (introductions, consensus-building, meeting customs, gift-giving). We will not repeat second-hand stereotypes. What the sources we opened do support: - Use the free Trade Commissioner Service. It has offices in Tokyo, Fukuoka (Kyushu, Okinawa, Chugoku), Osaka (Kansai, Tokai, parts of Shikoku) and Sapporo (Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, Iwate) (TCS contact page). Choose the office that covers your target region. - Registration, tax filings and several customer-facing documents are in Japanese, so budget for translation and a local professional (JETRO, section 3). - The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (founded 1975) runs networking events and committees in Tokyo and publishes the Canada-Japan Investment Business Guide (CCCJ). - The Japan-Canada Chambers Council, launched in 2014, connects Canadian and Japanese firms and meets policymakers (Canadian Chamber of Commerce). - For events and missions, see Find buyers, trade shows and trade missions.
10. Funding and support
- Trade Commissioner Service. Lists CanExport funding, Canadian Technology Accelerators (cleantech, ICT, life sciences), trade missions, trade shows and webinars (TCS). Events listed on 2026-10-20 include OXExpo (Yokohama, 2026-11-25 to 26; registration closed) and the AICTD Energy Storage and Smart Grid Mission (Tokyo, 2027-03-22 to 26; applications closed) (TCS).
- EDC. Credit insurance, guarantees, loans and market intelligence (EDC).
- CanExport amounts, eligibility and deadlines. We could not open the CanExport page, so we give no figures. Check the program page.
See Export funding and financing map.
11. Risks
- Tax registration surprises. B2B or B2C services may trigger Japanese consumption tax filings or tax-agent appointments (section 4.2).
- Invoicing expectations. Buyers may ask for a qualified invoice registration number (section 4.3).
- Enforcement. A Canadian judgment faces reciprocity and public-policy tests in Japan (section 5.1).
- Contract and payment protection. If the Proper Transactions Act or Freelance Act apply, terms that conflict with them can be penalised; whether they reach you is unconfirmed (section 5.5).
- Tariff and quota details. Phase-outs differ by product; pork has a gate price; wheat has a quota (section 6.1).
- Systems availability. JETRO's website was suspended after unauthorised access was found on 2026-10-14, and its pages were unavailable when we checked (JETRO). Keep copies of any guidance you rely on and check back.
- Source gaps. Standards, labelling, yen payments, governing-law limits and etiquette are not verified here (section 14).
12. If you are in Japan and want to work with Canadians
Start with the Canadian-side guides: Working with Canadian companies, Hire a Canadian freelancer or contractor, Hire a Canadian employee from abroad, Set up a Canadian subsidiary or branch, GST/HST for foreign businesses selling in Canada, Privacy and data rules for Canada, Doing business in Quebec.
What the sources we opened say for a Japan-based reader: - Tax treaty. The Canada-Japan treaty caps Canadian withholding on dividends at 5% or 15%, on interest at 10% and on royalties at 10%, subject to the conditions in section 4.1. Independent professional services are taxable only in the home country unless there is a fixed base in the other country (Art. 14). Confirm the forms Canada requires with a Canadian adviser. - Investment. Japanese firms hold a large direct-investment stake in Canada: C$48.2 billion in 2024, the fourth-largest source overall (TCS). - Canadian provincial presence in Tokyo. The CCCJ member directory lists Canadian government and provincial trade offices, including Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan (CCCJ). - Business bodies. The Japan-Canada Chambers Council and the CCCJ (section 9) both serve Japanese and Canadian members. - Embassy. The Embassy of Japan is at 255 Sussex Drive, Ottawa; consular and visa services have their own page (Embassy of Japan in Canada). - Consumer goods and Canadian reputation. The TCS says Japan has a positive view of Canadian products (TCS). - Canadian immigration for Japanese workers coming to Canada and the reciprocal treatment of Japanese business visitors were not verified. See Bring a worker to Canada. - Data from Canada to Japan. Canada is not among the countries Japan has recognised as adequate in the sources we opened (section 5.4); plan transfer mechanisms with counsel.
13. Checklist
- Decide whether you sell goods, services or both, and who is the importer of record in Japan.
- Contact the Trade Commissioner Service office covering your target region.
- Check your product's CPTPP tariff line, phase-out stage and rules of origin with a customs broker.
- Confirm Japanese product standards and labelling with your importer before shipping.
- Test whether your activities in Japan create a PE or fixed base under the treaty.
- If you sell digital services, decide whether you are B2B (reverse charge) or B2C (registration, tax agent).
- Decide whether to register as a qualified invoice issuer.
- Zero-rate your Canadian GST/HST correctly and keep the evidence.
- Have counsel choose governing law and forum (arbitration or court) and the contract language.
- Check whether the Proper Transactions Act or Freelance Act affects your payment terms.
- If you handle personal data of people in Japan, plan consent and transfer mechanisms.
- Confirm visa category and length of stay before anyone travels or works in Japan.
14. What this guide did not verify
- Time zone, official language and other basic facts not stated on the pages we opened.
- Japan's domestic withholding rates and the forms needed to claim the treaty rate.
- Canadian rules on reporting foreign income, foreign tax credits and zero-rating of goods exports.
- Japanese corporate tax rates; consumption tax at import; foreign-exchange reporting rules.
- Rules of origin and current CPTPP staging for each tariff line; the date of the GAC CPTPP page.
- Japanese standards and labelling (JIS, electrical safety, food, cosmetics, and similar).
- Limits on choosing foreign governing law; whether a Canadian province's judgments meet Japan's reciprocity test; arbitration institutions' rules.
- APPI Art. 171 (reach over foreign businesses) and the content and status of the January 2026 reform policy.
- Whether the Proper Transactions Act and Freelance Act apply to Canadian contractors working from Canada.
- Business etiquette and negotiating practice.
- CanExport funding amounts, eligibility and intake dates; EDC presence in Asia.
- Canadian immigration treatment of Japanese business visitors and workers; fees and processing times for Japanese visas.
- Japanese firms or law firms with Canada desks and Canadian firms with Japan desks. We did not list any because we could not open and confirm their sites.
- JETRO's current service offering (its website was suspended when we checked).
15. Sources opened
- Trade Commissioner Service: Doing business in Japan
- Trade Commissioner Service: Japan offices
- Global Affairs Canada: CPTPP partner Japan
- Trade Commissioner Service: guide to temporary entry in Japan under the CPTPP
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: trade overview, Japan
- EDC: CPTPP opportunities (2018) and EDC home
- Finance Canada: Canada-Japan convention, consolidated
- Japan MOF: Canada tax convention summary
- CRA GST/HST Memorandum 4-5-3
- NTA: consumption tax rates, electronic services guide (2024), cross-border guide, qualified invoice registration
- EU-Japan Centre: foreign business and consumption tax
- JETRO: setup guide, entity comparison, JETRO home (suspended notice)
- Japan Customs: import procedures
- PPC, PPC legal page, PPC triennial review page, APPI English translation, Baker McKenzie alert
- JFTC press release, 2025-05, JFTC annual report release, 2025-06, DLA Piper, Legal 500: Freelance Act
- Global Legal Post: enforcement of judgments in Japan
- MOFA: visa exemption, MOFA: working holiday
- Embassy of Japan in Canada, working holiday page, Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver FAQ
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce: Japan-Canada Chambers Council, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Research, not advice. Rules change and depend on your facts: confirm with a qualified Canadian professional before you act. Items we could not verify are labelled in the text.