The Philippines has strengthened its agricultural and fisheries partnership with Canada following a high-level meeting between Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Canadian Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau in Manila.
The meeting on August 3 resulted in a joint statement on technical collaboration between the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The agreement focuses on plant health, capacity building, scientific advancements, and the exchange of innovations.
Key topics also included food security, free trade talks, high-value crops, and African swine fever control measures.
Trade between the two countries has grown significantly, reaching USD 2.39 billion from 2020 to 2024, with the Philippines exporting USD 148 million in agri-fishery products to Canada this year—the strongest performance in five years.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 12, 2025
