The Philippines and Canada have reaffirmed their goal of completing negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) before the end of the year, according to a joint statement issued after a bilateral meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Marcos said the proposed agreement is part of both countries’ efforts to further expand trade and investment ties.
The two leaders also agreed to strengthen bilateral trade, build more resilient supply chains, and oppose economic coercion, according to the joint press statement released after their meeting.
The planned FTA is expected to support broader economic cooperation between the Philippines and Canada as both governments seek to enhance commercial relations and create more opportunities for businesses in both countries.
As part of his visit, Marcos is also scheduled to meet with Canadian business leaders to encourage additional investments in the Philippines.
The discussions are expected to focus on key sectors, including mining, energy, information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), telecommunications, and financial services.
The bilateral meeting forms part of continuing efforts by the Philippines and Canada to deepen economic engagement through increased trade, investment, and cooperation in strategic industries.
No specific timeline for the completion of the negotiations beyond this year’s target was announced during the meeting.
Officials from both countries have expressed their commitment to advancing discussions aimed at finalizing the bilateral trade agreement while promoting stronger economic collaboration and more resilient commercial partnerships.
