PHILIPPINES, CANADA TO BEGIN FIRST ROUND OF FTA TALKS NEXT WEEK

The Philippines and Canada will hold the first round of bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations from Feb. 18 to 20 in the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced. The talks were agreed upon by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during their meeting in Kuala Lumpur last October, with the goal of concluding the agreement within the year. Canadian stakeholders expressed strong support, highlighting potential benefits for trade in goods, services, energy, resources, and attracting foreign talent, while major export and import sectors—including electronics, machinery, cereals, and meat—are expected to benefit from reduced tariffs and trade barriers. At the 7th Philippine-Canada Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation, both sides emphasized advancing economic cooperation, energy security, critical minerals, and cybersecurity. Officials described the FTA talks as a milestone, reflecting strengthened relations and a shared commitment to a stable, predictable trading environment.