Last verified 2026-06-21 · period 2026–2027
How trade agreement coverage works
When a public buyer in Canada plans a purchase, the estimated value decides which rulebook applies. Trade agreements exist to keep procurement open and non-discriminatory above set dollar thresholds. Below the lowest threshold, a buyer has flexibility — it can sometimes limit competition or buy directly. At or above a threshold, the relevant agreement forces an open, fair, well-documented process: published notices, equal treatment of bidders, and evaluation against criteria stated up front.
For a supplier, the practical takeaway is simple. A contract at or above $239,200 in goods or services is almost certainly an open, internationally-advertised competition you can bid on. Below that, the CFTA may still force an open domestic process — its goods threshold is just $34,700, though services and construction start at $139,000. Under the goods threshold, an opportunity may never be openly advertised at all, which is exactly why incumbents and well-connected suppliers win the smallest contracts.
A worked example
Say a federal department estimates a three-year janitorial services contract at $175,000. That is above the CFTA services threshold ($139,000) but below the international threshold ($239,200). The result: CFTA applies, so the department must run an open competitive process and treat every bidder equally — but it is not obliged to advertise internationally under CETA, CPTPP, or the WTO-AGP. Enter $175,000 as a services contract in the checker above and you will see exactly this.
Who uses different thresholds
The figures here are for federal government departments and agencies. Crown corporations, provinces and territories, and MASH-sector entities (municipalities, academic institutions, school boards, and health organizations) are covered mainly by the CFTA but apply their own threshold values, which are generally higher for goods and services. Ontario's broader public sector, for example, runs its own directive. If your buyer is not a federal department, treat this tool as a starting point and confirm the entity's own thresholds.
Keep the figures current
Thresholds are adjusted on a two-year cycle to track currency movements, so a value that was below threshold last period can cross it this one. The numbers above are set by Treasury Board CPN 2025-8 for the 2026–2027 period; the next update takes effect January 2028. Always confirm against the current Treasury Board contracting policy notice and the text of the relevant agreement before relying on a determination for a real bid. This tool is guidance, not legal advice.