The mandate of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada is to manage Canada’s diplomatic and consular relations and to encourage the country’s international trade. This includes:

• ensuring that Canada’s foreign policy reflects true Canadian values and advances Canada’s national interests;
• strengthening rules-based trading arrangements and expanding free and fair market access at bilateral, regional and global levels; and
• working with a range of partners inside and outside government to achieve increased economic opportunity and enhanced security for Canada and for Canadians at home and abroad.

You can access the entire formal mandate of the department in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Act (R.S. 1985, c. E-22).