Carney meets Marcos in Manila as Canada concludes free-trade talks with Philippines, ASEAN

Prime Minister Mark Carney met Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for bilateral talks in Manila on Saturday (November 14), on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit. The two countries formally concluded negotiations on a free-trade agreement, while Canada also substantially concluded free-trade talks with ASEAN. Ottawa announced a C$26-million investment package for the Philippines and three new commercial agreements. Carney also said trade talks with US President Donald Trump were making progress. (File photo: Carney and Marcos at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur in October 2025.)

Philippines deal done, signing aimed for 2027

Canada and the Philippines have concluded negotiations on a comprehensive free-trade agreement, with a formal signing expected in 2027. The deal is part of Ottawa's Indo-Pacific strategy, which aims to double exports to non-US markets by 2035. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 49th ASEAN Summit and related summits.

ASEAN talks substantially concluded, covering a market of nearly 700 million

Carney also announced that Canada's free-trade negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been substantially concluded. ASEAN is a regional bloc of nearly 700 million people. Canada has been working to expand its presence in Asian markets and reduce its dependence on the United States; concluding the talks is seen as an important step in that strategy.

C$26-million package and three commercial agreements

Ottawa announced a C$26-million investment package for the Philippines and three commercial agreements covering drone technology, renewable energy and ocean technology. The package will support nuclear security and safety, climate-resilient agriculture, community resilience, food security and infrastructure, including projects connected to the G7-backed Luzon Economic Corridor.

Progress reported in trade talks with Trump

Carney said he had a lengthy conversation with Trump and senior US administration officials before leaving for Europe and Asia, and that the two countries were making progress toward a trade deal. Canada-US trade talks stalled after collapsing in August. Carney's Europe and Asia trip runs from November 11 to 19 and includes the ASEAN summit.

What comes next

The Canada-Philippines agreement still needs a formal signing and domestic approval in both countries, and the ASEAN deal requires final work on the text. For Ottawa, the real test is whether the agreements translate into actual exports and investment rather than results on paper. At the same time, progress in the trade talks with the United States remains the biggest variable for the Canadian economy.