A DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry official said the country expects its free trade agreement with Canada, as well as the Asean-Canada FTA, to wrap up soonest.
“We will sign and conclude the Asean-Canada FTA and even go faster on the Philippines-Canada FTA,” Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said at the Building Economic Security through Strengthened Canada-Philippines Partnership event on Friday, noting that these are part of 19 priority economic deliverables as the country assumed its chairship of the 2026 Asean Summit.
“Modern trade agreements are far more than just reducing tariffs. They create stable and predictable frameworks that help economies diversify supply chains [and] strengthen investment confidence,” Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman said at the event.
”In a time of global uncertainty ... both our governments have set an ambitious timeline to conclude these negotiations this calendar year, and Canada remains fully committed to achieving that goal,” he added.
Discussions for the PH-Canada FTA started in 2024, and the first round of negotiations opened in Feb. 18-20 this year.
According to data, Philippine exports to Canada totaled CA$1.8 billion in 2024, while Canadian exports to the Philippines were valued at CA$1.4 billion.
Total bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries reached CA$3.2 billion.
In terms of investments, Canadian capital in the Philippines totaled CA$844 million in 2024, while Philippine capital was valued at CA$48 million.
Negotiations for the Asean-Canada FTA began on Nov. 17, 2021, with 15 rounds convened as of July 2025.
It aims to enhance economic cooperation and reduce trade barriers by granting preferential access in the exchange of goods, services, and investments between Asean member countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Canada.
