In a major step forward for bilateral relations, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have reaffirmed their shared commitment to conclude negotiations for a Philippine-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) before the end of 2026.
The announcement was made during a joint press statement at the Vancouver Convention Centre following a productive one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, where they discussed the accelerating trajectory of the nations’ bilateral relations. Talks for the bilateral FTA officially launched in late 2025.
“Prime Minister Carney and I reaffirmed our commitment to conclude the negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement this year,” President Marcos said. “We also renewed our commitment to increase our bilateral trade, stand against economic coercion, and build a resilient supply chain.”
Currently, the trading relationship heavily features Philippine exports of electronics and machinery to Canada, while Canada primarily exports mineral ores, meat, cereals, aerospace parts, and fertilizers to the Philippines.
To sustain this momentum, both leaders have tasked their respective Foreign Ministers with drawing up a comprehensive Plan of Action. This framework will guide the two nations in adapting to shifting global realities, addressing shared challenges, and building capacity for what President Marcos termed a “future-ready partnership.”
The leaders emphasized that robust defense and security cooperation underpins the strength of their modern relationship. President Marcos and Prime Minister Carney welcomed recent milestones, including the signing of the Status of Agreement in Manila, which is currently awaiting legislative ratification.
They are also looking forward to the upcoming signing of the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement and the Statement of Intent on Strengthening Defense Cooperation.
Underscoring the importance of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region—particularly aligned with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS)—President Marcos expressed gratitude for Canada’s concrete security contributions. Notably, he thanked Canada for its Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) Program, which has been deployed to the Philippines to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) while enhancing maritime domain awareness. President Marcos requested an extension of continuous access to the DVD system for the next five years.
As the Philippines marks the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award on the South China Sea, President Marcos extended his appreciation for Canada’s steadfast support of a rules-based international order under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and its consistent backing of the legally binding arbitral ruling.
Closing his remarks, President Marcos paid tribute to the foundational element of the alliance: the people. He warmly recognized the contributions of the one million-strong Filipino diaspora living in Canada, stating that they “serve as the heart and soul of the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Canada.”
A strategic partnership is a long-term diplomatic framework designed to deepen comprehensive cooperation across multiple vital dimensions, including defense, economics, technology, and politics, ensuring both nations can reliably navigate evolving global challenges together.
