Philippines Aims to Finalize Canada FTA Text by September

The Philippines aims to finalize the text of its proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with Canada by September and complete the deal within the year, officials said. Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty described the third round of negotiations held in Ottawa, Canada, as “very successful.” “In terms of the progress that we have achieved, it was very substantive. I can say that we’re still on track,” Gepty said. “We’re hoping that by the fourth round, we can stabilize the text.” Negotiators launched talks in February and have since completed several chapters. Early discussions covered goods access, services, business mobility, investment, intellectual property, and legal provisions, including anti-corruption measures. The fourth round, slated for September in Canada, will focus on finalizing the remaining text and resolving market access issues. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is targeting completion this year, alongside ongoing FTA talks with the European Union and a review of the agreement with Japan. “Our target is really this year, so we’ll work doubly hard,” Gepty added. The talks are expected to gain further momentum following President Marcos’ July visit to Canada, where ties were elevated to a strategic partnership with Prime Minister Mark Carney. The visit also saw $2.5 billion in investment pledges. In 2025, Canada ranked as the Philippines’ 18th export market, importing $1.31 billion worth of goods, accounting for 1.5 percent of the country’s total exports. Bilateral trade reached $2.15 billion, making Canada the 16th-largest trading partner for the Philippines. The proposed deal would expand market access and mark the Philippines’ first bilateral FTA with a North American country.