Talking Points

On July 2, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a new strategic partnership with the Philippines during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Vancouver, aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, particualrly the export of forest products.

The partnership prioritizes concluding negotiations for a Canada-Philippines free trade agreement by the end of 2026, which is projected to boost bilateral trade by nearly 200% by 2035 and create new export opportunities for Canadian businesses.

The Philippines is Canada’s sixth-largest merchandise export market in ASEAN, with trade totalling $3.4 billion in 2025. This marks the first visit to Canada by a Philippine head of state in 11 years.

On July 2, Canada’s prime minister welcomed the Philippines’ president to Vancouver to announce a new strategic partnership to deepen bilateral co-operation in trade, energy, defence and tourism.

One of this partnership’s priorities is to conclude negotiations by the end of 2026 for a Canada-Philippines free trade agreement, which is expected to increase bilateral trade by nearly 200% by 2035 and create new export opportunities for Canadian businesses, particularly in forest products and agriculture.

“We are deepening co-operation to unlock new markets and drive more investment between our growing economies,” said prime minister Mark Carney. “In a volatile world, Canada’s government is strengthening partnerships to create greater prosperity and opportunities for Canadian workers.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited Vancouver from July 1 to 4, marking the first visit to Canada by a head of state of the Philippines in 11 years.

In 2025, bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and the Philippines totalled $3.4 billion. That made the Philippines our sixth-largest merchandise export market in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with which Canada is negotiating a broader free trade agreement in parallel, also with the goal of completion by the end of 2026. This agreement is anticipated to add nearly $2 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) and create nearly 14,000 jobs.

“I look forward to concluding negotiations on these free trade agreements this year to build on our growing momentum across the region,” said federal minister of international trade Maninder Sidhu.