Philippines, Canada on track to conclude FTA talks this year

Manila, Philippines — Philippine officials remain optimistic that they will finalize negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with Canada this year, Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty stated. The Philippines and Canada concluded the fourth round of FTA talks from September 8 to 11 in Toronto, Canada. Gepty mentioned that they are "almost closed" and will only need to resolve remaining issues through virtual and small meetings. This would be the Philippines' first FTA in North America.

The proposed FTA is forward-looking, covering various aspects such as sustainable development, an inclusive agenda, resilient supply chains, and digital transformation. Gepty emphasized that this agreement aims to build a stronger, future-ready economic partnership between the two nations. As negotiations progress, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is intensifying its outreach to stakeholders, including consultations with Philippine professionals and Filipino-Canadian businesses to leverage the potential benefits of the FTAs.

The Philippines has been actively working to expand its free trade commitments. In July, the country successfully concluded FTA talks with Chile, its first trade deal in Latin America. Additionally, the Philippines is striving to finalize its FTA review with Japan this year.