By Noreen Cesareo

Connecting Trade Policy With the Realities of Doing Business Across Borders

It was a privilege to represent the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT International), as its President, at the September meeting of the WTO Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender in Geneva.

Coming just days after the WTO Public Forum, where I convened and moderated our session on Trusted Digital Trade Corridors for Inclusive Services Trade, the meeting provided another important opportunity to connect international trade policy discussions with practical experience on the ground.

It was also an opportunity to share the achievements of OWIT’s global network, particularly how our chapters are helping women entrepreneurs and trade professionals develop the knowledge, skills, connections and confidence to participate more fully in international trade.

Drawing on my own experience in international trade, market development and working with businesses seeking to enter and grow in new markets, I wanted to reinforce a point I consider fundamental: access to international markets is not simply about opening doors. It is also about strengthening the ecosystem and enabling businesses to navigate what lies beyond them.

Trade agreements and policy commitments can create opportunities, but smaller businesses still face the practical complexities of market entry — understanding regulatory requirements, identifying credible partners, accessing finance, navigating distribution and payment systems, and developing the capabilities to compete internationally.

These challenges can be particularly acute for women entrepreneurs, especially those operating smaller businesses with limited resources and international networks.

This is why the work of organisations such as OWIT matters.

During my intervention, I shared examples of how our chapters and partners are helping address these challenges:

Training and trade capacity building — through workshops, webinars and practical programmes covering export readiness, market access, international business development and the skills needed to operate across borders.

Mentoring and leadership development — including OWIT Lake Geneva’s Rise & Lead initiative and OWIT Toronto’s work supporting emerging women leaders, demonstrating the lasting impact of mentoring, encouragement and professional networks.

Supporting internationalisation — including OWIT UK’s Going Global initiatives with NatWest, helping businesses strengthen their understanding of international opportunities and the practicalities of expanding into new markets.

Regional trade engagement — through our expanding African chapter network and involvement in initiatives supporting women’s participation in trade, including opportunities arising from the AfCFTA.

Cross-border commercial connections — drawing on our international network to connect entrepreneurs, professionals and businesses, helping relationships develop into meaningful commercial partnerships.

What I find particularly valuable is that these activities are interconnected. Training builds capability, mentoring builds confidence, networks create connections, and partnerships help turn those connections into opportunities. Together, they contribute to more sustainable participation in international trade.

I also highlighted the challenges of sustaining and scaling this work. OWIT is largely volunteer-driven, and the commitment of our chapter leaders and members is exceptional. However, extending our reach and impact requires resources, institutional partnerships and greater collaboration across the trade ecosystem.

For me, one of the continuing challenges in international trade is the gap between policy ambition and practical implementation.

We already have considerable expertise, infrastructure, institutions and support mechanisms across the international trade ecosystem. Yet these are not always sufficiently connected, accessible or easy for smaller businesses to navigate.

This was also central to our discussion at the WTO Public Forum: how can we better connect existing systems, services and institutions rather than duplicate them, and build solutions around the needs of the businesses they are intended to serve?

I believe this is where we need to focus greater attention — strengthening the links between policy, institutions and practical business support, while ensuring that the experiences of entrepreneurs and trade practitioners inform how solutions are designed and delivered.

OWIT has an important role to play, bringing the perspectives of its members into international discussions while supporting practical action through its chapters and partnerships.

My thanks to the Co-Chairs of the WTO Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender for the opportunity to contribute, and to our OWIT leaders, chapters and members around the world whose achievements I was proud to share.

Ultimately, the success of inclusive trade policy should be measured not only by the commitments we make, but by the businesses and people who are better equipped to participate, compete and succeed in international markets.

Originally published by OWIT International.

[L to r]: Mr. Bac Nguyen, Vice-Chair, Vietnam–Canada Business Association; Dr. Julie Nguyen, Strategic Advisor, OWIT-Toronto; Prime Minister Mark Carney; and Dr. Phuoc Dang, Chair, Canada Vietnam Society

[L to r]: Thanh Phan, Founder & Lawyer, Elite Law Corporation; Mr. Bac Nguyen, Vice-Chair, Vietnam–Canada Business Association; President Vietnam Tô Lâm; and Dr. Julie Nguyen, Strategic Advisor, OWIT-Toronto

OWIT-Toronto Strategic Advisor Dr. Julie Nguyen, Chair of Canada-ASEAN Initiatives at York University and Director of the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council, was in Ottawa during the historic state visit of Vietnam’s General Secretary and President Tô Lâm. The visit marked an important milestone in bilateral relations, with Canada and Vietnam officially elevating their relationship to a Strategic Partnership, expanding cooperation in areas including trade and investment, digital technology and innovation, energy, education and people-to-people ties.

During the visit, President Tô Lâm met with Prime Minister Mark Carney, with discussions focused on strengthening economic ties and expanding opportunities for cooperation between the two countries. The new Strategic Partnership represents another step toward deeper Canada - Vietnam engagement and creates opportunities for Canadian businesses seeking to diversify and strengthen connections within the Indo-Pacific region.

The collapse of the latest Canada–U.S. trade negotiations and the resulting escalation of tariffs are deeply concerning for businesses on both sides of the border. For decades, Canada and the United States have built one of the world’s most integrated and successful trading relationships. Tariffs of this magnitude disrupt supply chains, increase costs, delay investment and place jobs at risk. Their effects will be especially sharp for small and medium-sized enterprises, including women-owned and women-led businesses that often have fewer resources to absorb prolonged uncertainty.

As a non-profit organization supporting women engaged in international trade, OWIT Toronto recognizes the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation between Canada and the United States. A stable, predictable and rules-based trading environment is essential to helping businesses, particularly women-owned and women-led enterprises, plan, invest and grow with confidence.

At the same time, this moment reinforces the importance of helping Canadian companies diversify their markets, strengthen domestic and interprovincial supply chains, and access practical supports, including financing, export intelligence and new procurement opportunities. Women entrepreneurs and exporters must be meaningfully included in the design and delivery of these measures.

OWIT Toronto is committed to helping our members navigate this rapidly evolving trade environment. We will strive to share timely information and practical resources to help businesses understand how tariffs may affect their operations, supply chains and export strategies and identify opportunities to adapt and diversify. Members seeking information or support are encouraged to follow us at www.owit-toronto.ca  for updates.

Canada and the United States are more than trading partners. Our economies, communities and people are deeply connected.  While negotiations have reached an impasse, we remain hopeful that renewed dialogue will lead to a fair, stable and mutually beneficial path forward.

 

Susan Baka and Cathy Williamson
Co-Presidents, OWIT Toronto

OWIT-TO and the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) have launched a new partnership to advance professional development for women and diverse professionals in international trade by expanding access to learning opportunities, networking, and collaborative programming. FITT is Canada's leading international trade training and certification organization, dedicated to preparing business professionals for success in global markets.

As part of the partnership, OWIT-TO members are eligible for a 25% discount on FITT’s courses, covering a range of topics from export planning and trade finance to international sales and marketing.

OWIT-TO members can access their exclusive code via their member portal.

Applications are open for the City of Toronto's Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) until July 28. The TAP helps export-ready small and medium-sized businesses develop the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to expand into international markets. Find more information and application details here.

 

By Jeanne Brownewell, OWIT-Toronto

OWIT International hosted its virtual Spring Global Summit 2026, Aligning our Vision, Strengthening Our Voice on June 17. Bringing together representatives from OWIT chapters across the globe, the summit provided a forum for connection, collaboration, and opportunity to build the future of OWIT. President Noreen Burroughes Cesareo remarked how — with 25+ chapters across 4 continents — OWIT is continuing to grow as it champions women in trade and contributes to the wider ecosystem.

OWIT's Value Proposition

Ken Jacques, VP of Communications, shared the results of the OWIT Global Communications Survey, highlighting strong alignment around OWIT’s mission but weaker consistency in how its value is communicated. While OWIT maintains significant credibility and influence, there is room to create a clearer, more unified message to current and prospective members, partners, and external audiences. OWIT’s value proposition extends beyond networking to include leadership, expertise, and influence, connecting women to opportunities and advancing their participation in shaping international trade.

Engagement and Cross-Chapter Collaboration

Moderated by Dr. Blessing Irabor-Oza, co-VP Programming, this panel — including Nathalie Bradbury (Canada), Jennie Sammur (USA), Iulia Popescu (Europe), Tshengi Ndlovu (Africa), Elif Abdullahoglu (Türkiye), and Tamuna Gabilaia, who moderated the breakout rooms — sought insights on how chapters can feel more connected and supported. Participants agreed that engagement is strongest when members see a clear connection between networking and value, including business opportunities, mentoring, career development, and access to relevant information. The discussion also emphasized ideas for more intentional collaboration across chapters, such as creating a technology-enabled platform that facilitates B2B matchmaking and mentorship among members globally while communicating OWIT’s value proposition to partners. Natural partnership opportunities center on organizations with similar work, including trade-related firms, chambers of commerce, NGOs, and other women’s organizations.

Guest Keynote: Leading with AI in a Changing World

Dr. Anastassia Lauterbach, CEO and Founder of AI Edutainment, delivered a presentation on how AI literacy and resilience can become strategic advantages for women in global trade and international business. She noted that knowledge of the technology remains limited, creating misconceptions about its role and potential. Businesses that take a “literacy before fluency” approach, developing a grasp of AI fundamentals and risks, will be best-positioned to succeed.

Best practices for organizations include using AI to solve specific contextual problems rather than broad application, working closely with HR to augment the workforce, and carefully considering the security and financial implications. As demographic pressures grow, integrating AI into business operations becomes increasingly important, though well-structured workflows are necessary for ensuring automation covers both explicit and tacit knowledge. Strong AI governance is also essential as difficult-to-audit agentic systems expand.

Moderated Open Forum

The summit concluded with an open forum moderated by Susan Baka, co-VP Chapter Support, and Cami Mazard, Esq, co-VP Sponsorship. Participants shared additional suggestions to strengthen OWIT’s reach and impact, including increasing its visibility in the W20 delegation, connecting chapters through trade missions, and hosting a database of centralized resources. As a relationship-driven network, OWIT will continue to build bridges and trust while serving as a key source of information for women passionate about international trade.

Planned by OWIT Executive VPs Jennie Sammur and Nathalie Bradbury, the Summit was also organized with the support of Elif Abdullahoglu, co-VP Conferences & Meetings.

OWIT-Toronto was pleased to present its annual Summer Trade Social, hosted by Scotiabank on June 17, welcoming members and guests from across the international trade and business community to connect and share insights through high-quality networking.

A highlight of the event was a presentation by Mitch Villeneuve, Director of Economic Policy at Scotiabank, who discussed changing global trade flows amid ongoing U.S. tariff announcements and supply chain disruptions. He noted that trade shocks have become a fact of life, with businesses adapting to ongoing uncertainty even as tariff pressures have eased. While Canada continues to benefit from CUSMA – ensuring 90% of U.S.-bound trade remains tariff-free – sectors like steel and aluminum are facing declines. Among more positive developments, Canada’s services sector remains largely insulated from tariffs, alongside a 34% increase in Canada–Mexico trade since 2024.

Looking towards the CUSMA joint review, Villeneuve expects current exemptions to continue, despite the possibility of more tariffs in certain sectors. The reconfiguration of global trade routes and growing interest in Canada creates opportunities for Canadian SMEs to build new connections and expand into alternative markets. Reducing interprovincial trade barriers will also help to boost the domestic economy.

The evening also spotlighted a new partnership between OWIT and the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT). It will support women and diverse professionals in international trade through professional development opportunities and collaborative programming.

Reps from a number of other OWIT partner organizations and government agencies attended, including Canadian Women in Food, the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce, the Sound of C, the Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the City of Toronto, Global Affairs Canada and the Ontario government, which expanded the networking opportunities for everyone!

We extend a special thank you to sponsor Scotiabank for hosting us and to Canadian Women in Food for its donation of a food package door prize. Scotiabank is committed to supporting women entrepreneurs through the Scotiabank Women Initiative, which combines financial products, advisory services, and advocacy. The initiative takes a country-by-country approach, recognizing that the needs of women business owners are similar but different across geographies, and is further localizing its offerings for varying markets and contexts.

OWIT-Toronto looks forward to deepening collaboration with our many partners that empowers women and promotes inclusive trade.

On June 5, Expo México Mujer in Ottawa brought together women entrepreneurs, business leaders, and organizations to celebrate women's leadership and strengthen business connections between Mexico and Canada.

The expo showcased a diverse range of Mexican products and services while creating valuable opportunities for networking, business development, and cross-border collaboration. It also highlighted the significant potential for increased partnerships between Canadian and Mexican women entrepreneurs and business organizations.

Expo Mujer México was organized through a collaborative effort by the Embassy of Mexico in Canada, Grupo LET, COMCE Sur (the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology – Southern-Southeastern Region), and the Global Women's Leaders Pact of Mexico. The initiative reflects the growing momentum behind efforts to promote women's economic participation, international trade, and business leadership.

Alma Farias, Strategic Advisor and Chair of the Advisory Committee, represented OWIT-Toronto (Organization of Women in International Trade), joining representatives of Mexican business associations, trade promotion organizations, and women-led companies from a variety of sectors.

In the accompanying photo, Alma is pictured with Josefina Lombard, Director of COMCE Sur, and Verónica Téllez Ponce, President of the Global Women's Leaders Pact, both recognized for their leadership in advancing opportunities for women in international business and trade.

OWIT International has published its May 2026 newsletter, with the latest OWIT news and events from chapters across the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Discover what women in trade are doing around the world and stay connected by subscribing to future issues here.