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Canada-Germany economic talks: bilateral merchandise trade up over 60% since pre-CETA era

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International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu met German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Ottawa on Sept. 25 to discuss energy, critical minerals and battery cooperation; bilateral merchandise trade has grown more than 60% since 2016, and a Canada-Germany Joint Strategic Partnership is nearing completion.

International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu met German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Ottawa on September 25 to discuss deepening Canada-Germany economic cooperation. Representatives from the German-Canadian critical minerals company Roch Tech Lithium, Germany's H2Global Foundation, Volkswagen's battery subsidiary PowerCo SE, and the Transatlantic Business Initiative took part, highlighting their investments and cooperation in energy and critical minerals.

Why it matters

This is Ottawa's diversification drive in action: Sidhu noted that bilateral merchandise trade has risen more than 60% since pre-CETA levels in 2016, with bilateral investment expanding rapidly, particularly in energy and critical minerals. As the Canada-U.S. tariff fight grinds on, Germany — the EU's largest economy — has become one of Canada's most important strategic trade and investment partners.

Full report

Sidhu said the Canada-Germany Joint Strategic Partnership, once finalized, will support economic growth and cooperation in key sectors: security and defence; supply chains and critical minerals; artificial intelligence; investment; and energy.

Both ministers stressed turning the upcoming Strategic Partnership into tangible results: strengthening business-to-business ties in strategic sectors, fostering new opportunities, creating jobs and attracting investment, while advancing shared prosperity and strategic autonomy.

The talks came a day after Canada and Germany signed a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA), creating a trusted framework for exchanging sensitive defence and security information and opening the door for Canadian industry to bid on German classified contracts, including those tied to Canada's patrol submarine project. Two days of back-to-back moves show the Carney government accelerating its European pivot from paper to practice.

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