Canada and Philippines end talks for a free-trade deal, aiming to sign next year

The Story

Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Philippine counterpart formally concluded negotiations for a free-trade agreement between Canada and the Philippines in Manila on Saturday.

The deal was wrapped up on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is hosting in Manila.

Carney said at a news conference that the agreement is “good news” for Canadians in the agriculture, aerospace, and artificial intelligence sectors, and that forestry, mining and energy would also benefit. He added that “Canadian supply is meeting Philippine demand,” and that the agreement would give producers and companies “a bigger competitive advantage.”

Carney’s office said the two sides signed a document that ends the talks for the Philippines-Canada Free Trade Agreement, which began just over a year earlier. Ottawa is aiming to have the actual agreement signed next year.

Carney’s office said the government-to-government agreement could increase exports by up to three times by 2035 and boost Canadian exports of agriculture and forest products.

Along with the trade documents, Carney also announced $26 million to strengthen ties between the two countries on nuclear security and safety, climate-resilient agriculture, community resilience and food security, and infrastructure.

His office said there is also agreement to launch formal discussions on security, a possible agreement on customs, and the “protection of sensitive information.”

Carney said in his remarks to Marcos that the relationship requires leadership to move beyond “harbour” safety into “choppy waters,” and he linked that to the two countries’ efforts.

In addition, Canada is extending its dark-vessel detection program, which uses satellites to detect and track fishing boats that have turned off location-transmitting devices. The extension doubles the program’s initial five-year period, with its end now slated for spring 2033.