Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr pledged to strengthen trade, energy and security ties as Canada works to diversify its economy beyond the United States and deepen its engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
Carney said both countries can benefit in energy security and critical minerals through a strategic partnership.
“We share the same aspirations in terms of what we would want to achieve,” Marcos said.
The leaders pledged to pursue a Canada-Philippines free trade agreement, deepen defence and maritime cooperation and strengthen economic ties supported by Canada’s one million-strong Filipino community.
Canada is currently negotiating a trade deal with both the Philippines and a broader bloc of South-East Asian nations, with Carney hoping to conclude those talks ahead of his visit to Manila in November.
Carney has set a goal for Canada to double its non-US exports in the next decade, saying American tariffs are causing a chill in investment. — AP
