Trade of Culture and Sport Products (TCSP), 2017
The Trade of Culture and Sport Products (TCSP) provides measures of the international and interprovincial trade of goods and services attributed to both culture and sport (inclusive of the arts and heritage). These data were developed as an extension of the Canadian Culture Satellite Account and the Provincial and Territorial Culture Satellite Indicators by providing additional information regarding the state of culture and sport for Canada, the provinces and territories.
Canada exported $15.7 billion of culture products in 2017, down 7.6% from the previous year. This decrease was mainly attributable to declines in trade of craft products. Meanwhile, Canadians imported 3.1% more culture products in 2017, totalling $21.8 billion. Culture products accounted for 2.4% of all goods and services exports and 3.1% of total imports.
The largest contributor to both exports and imports of culture products in Canada was visual and applied arts, which includes crafts and design services. Additionally, audio-visual and interactive media, which includes film and video production and post-production services, was also a significant contributor to culture trade.
The United States has remained Canada's largest trading partner for culture products, representing over 60% of both culture exports and imports. Other notable trading partners include the European Union and China, which account for over 11% and 4% of culture trade respectively.
Infographic on International Trade of Culture Products for 2010-17
The Cultural Satellite Account was developed by Statistics Canada with the support of a diverse group of partners referred to as the Culture Statistics Strategy Consortium which includes the Canada Council of the Arts.

Source: Canadian Heritage
Image of a map of Canada with an arrow pointing in towards the map (representing culture imports) and an arrow pointing outwards from the map (representing culture exports).
Culture imports
In 2016, imports of culture products1 totaled $21.8 billion.
Year | Total culture imports (culture product) |
---|---|
2010 | $15.6 billion |
2011 | $15.8 billion |
2012 | $16.7 billion |
2013 | $19.4 billion |
2014 | $20.0 billion |
2015 | $21.1 billion |
2016 | $21.2 billion |
2017 | $21.8 billion |
Canada imported the most culture products from the United States, China and Mexico.
Country | Culture imports in 2017 |
---|---|
United States | $14.0 billion |
China | $1.0 billion |
United Kingdom | $642.5 million |
Mexico | $605.6 million |
France | $584.1 million |
The Crafts3, Books, and Film and video sub-domains contributed the most to culture imports.
Subdomain | Culture imports in 2017 |
---|---|
Crafts | $6.3 billion |
Books | $2.0 billion |
Film and video | $1.9 billion |
Performing arts | $1.8 billion |
Multi | $1.5 billion |
Culture exports
In 2016, exports of Canadian culture products1 totaled $16.0 billion.
Year | Total culture exports (culture product) |
---|---|
2010 | $11.2 billion |
2011 | $12.2 billion |
2012 | $11.5 billion |
2013 | $14.0 billion |
2014 | $13.7 billion |
2015 | $16.0 billion |
2016 | $17.0 billion |
2017 | $15.7 billion |
Canada exported the largest amount of culture products to the United States, China, and the United Kingdom.
Country | Culture exports in 2017 |
---|---|
United States | $9.5 billion |
China | $695.7 million |
United Kingdom | $486.8 million |
Germany | $442 million |
France | $384.2 million |
The Crafts3, Film and video, and Governance, funding and professional support sub-domains contributed the most to culture exports.
Subdomain | Culture exports in 2017 |
---|---|
Crafts | $4.2 billion |
Film and video | $3.0 billion |
Governance, funding and professional support | $1.2 billion |
Design | $1.1 billion |
Performing arts | $900 million |