Canada-Philippines
Canada, Philippines launch strategic partnership, target free trade deal by year-end
Vancouver: Canada and the Philippines on Friday launched a strategic partnership covering trade, defence, energy and labour cooperation, with both countries aiming to conclude negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement by the end of 2026.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is on the first visit to Canada by a Philippine head of state in 11 years, announced the partnership in Vancouver.
A key pillar of the partnership is the proposed Canada-Philippines Free Trade Agreement, which both governments said they aim to finalize before the end of the year.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, the deal is expected to triple bilateral trade by 2035 and expand export opportunities for Canadian industries, particularly agriculture and forest products.
The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to concluding negotiations on a broader Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement during the Philippines' chairmanship of ASEAN this year.
Ottawa said the regional agreement could add nearly $2 billion to Canada's gross domestic product and support almost 14,000 jobs.
Canada and the Philippines signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on Energy and Natural Resources Cooperation and launched a technical assistance partnership to strengthen cooperation on energy, mining and critical minerals.
The two countries also announced a Joint Declaration of Intent on Labour and Migration to improve protections for migrant workers and promote ethical recruitment.
On defence, Ottawa said the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement will soon come into force, allowing the Canadian and Philippine armed forces to conduct joint training and military exercises.
The agreement builds on defence arrangements signed during Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro's visit to Ottawa in June.
Canada and the Philippines also signed memoranda of understanding on tourism and cultural cooperation to expand people-to-people exchanges.
"More than one million Filipino Canadians call Canada home. Today, Canada and the Philippines are strengthening these ties," Carney said in a statement.
According to the federal government, bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries totalled $3.4 billion in 2025, with the Philippines ranking as Canada's sixth-largest merchandise export market in ASEAN.
In June this year, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro visited Ottawa, where the two countries signed a Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement and a Statement of Intent on Strengthening Defence Cooperation.
Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty and Department of National Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro during their meeting in Canada on June 11. Photo: Department of National Defense - Philippines/X
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