Canada Eyes 2 Free Trade Pacts With Philippines, ASEAN This Year
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 12
Canada Eyes 2 Free Trade Pacts With Philippines, ASEAN This Year
2 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 12
Canada said it expects to conclude free trade agreements with the Philippines and the wider ASEAN bloc this year, signaling a push to deepen its Southeast Asia footprint.
Maninder Sidhu said negotiations are "really going well" after meetings in Manila with Philippine Trade Secretary Cristina Roque and Finance Secretary Frederick Go.
Ottawa is pursuing the deals to boost business ties with the region and expand trade beyond the United States, its dominant export market.
As US and Chinese pressures mount, can Canada's trade deal offer a genuine third option for Southeast Asian economies?
With key issues like e-commerce unresolved, is the ambitious 2026 Canada-ASEAN free trade deal deadline realistic?