International bilateral security instruments

Learn about bilateral security instruments and how they help Canadian suppliers bid on contracts abroad.

On this page

• Overview of International bilateral security instruments
• Signed instruments not yet in force
• Multinational Industrial Security Working Group
• Related links

Overview of International bilateral security instruments

The Government of Canada works with foreign governments to protect sensitive information through bilateral security instruments. These formal instruments made between Canada and other countries establish a shared security protocol for handling classified or protected information. These instruments may be known by different names, including:

• General Security of Information Agreements
• Information Sharing Agreements
• General Security Agreements
• General Security of Military Information Agreements
• Memoranda of Understanding
• Arrangements

Areas of cooperation

International bilateral security instruments facilitate business agreement opportunities in sectors such as:

• defence
• security
• aerospace
• maritime
• nuclear
• space

Public Services and Procurement Canada's Industrial Security Sector has been negotiating and implementing bilateral security instruments with other countries and international organizations for more than 7 decades. These countries and international organizations are listed below:

• Albania
• Australia
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Chile
• Denmark
• European Space Agency (ESA)
• European Union (EU)
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Israel
• Italy
• Latvia
• NATO
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Republic of Korea
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• United States

Signed instruments not yet in force

Signed bilateral security instruments may take time before they come into force. For details on this process, consult the Policy on Tabling of Treaties in Parliament and recent announcements related to international bilateral security instruments:

• European Space Agency (ESA)

Multinational Industrial Security Working Group

Canada is part of the Multinational Industrial Security Working Group (MISWG) that consists of National Security Authorities, Designated Security Authorities and their representatives who are responsible for industrial security in their country. The MISWG mission is to:

• promote, improve and harmonize common international industrial security best practices
• safeguard classified and certain other forms of government-controlled information to confront current and emerging security threats and challenges within its scope

Adoption of common templates and exchange procedures facilitates the implementation and operation of international programs and projects among the MISWG membership.

This international working group consists of:

• all NATO countries (except Iceland)
• Australia
• Austria
• Israel
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• Switzerland
• European Commission (observer)
• European Defence Agency (observer)
• European Space Agency (observer)
• NATO Office of Security (observer)
• Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) (observer)