MANILA, Philippines — Canada is seeking to conclude separate trade negotiations with the Philippines and ASEAN by November, expanding its search for export markets and energy customers. Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu told Reuters on September 22 that both sets of talks were more than 90 percent complete.
The timetable carries an important distinction: concluding negotiations does not mean an agreement immediately takes effect. ASEAN and Canadian ministers have called for negotiations to finish by November’s summit, while their joint statement envisages signing the regional agreement in 2027.
A Broader Search for Markets
For Ottawa, the negotiations advance a stated ambition to double exports to markets outside the United States over the next decade. Canada’s merchandise trade with ASEAN reached C$52.5 billion in 2025, an increase of 23.7 percent, according to a September 23 government statement. Trade with the Philippines accounted for C$3.4 billion. Those figures suggest the agreements would deepen an already expanding relationship.
Philippine officials have also expressed optimism, with qualifications. Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty said few bilateral issues remained and that negotiators hoped to finish in November. He highlighted agricultural sensitivities and market-access commitments as areas requiring careful negotiation, and cautioned that legal review, signing and ratification would follow any negotiating conclusion.
Energy Leads the Investment Pitch
Sidhu highlighted more than five Pacific-coast liquefied natural gas projects at different stages of development, alongside opportunities in Philippine data centres. His pitch comes as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz sharpen concerns about fuel security.
The regional response reflects that urgency. ASEAN and Canadian ministers jointly warned that the Middle East crisis and disrupted energy supplies were raising business costs and inflationary pressures, strengthening their argument for closer economic cooperation.
Canada has also committed an initial C$2 million to technical assistance for the Luzon Economic Corridor, joining a partnership involving the Philippines, the United States and Japan. The initiative links infrastructure, clean energy, manufacturing and digital investment. The contribution is intended to help attract projects; it is not a commitment to finance the corridor’s construction.
A Wider Turn Toward Asia
Canada’s initiative coincides with a European push. On September 22, the European Union announced an initial trade understanding with the Philippines that would remove more than 94 percent of tariffs. European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the political agreements still needed to be translated into legal text.
Taken together, these negotiations suggest Southeast Asia is gaining importance as governments seek a broader range of commercial partners. For Canada, November would mark a diplomatic milestone. The economic payoff would follow more slowly, as negotiated access becomes usable trading rules and prospective investments become operating projects.