The Philippines and Canada have renewed their commitment to strengthen agricultural cooperation, underscoring the importance of expanding trade and technical collaboration in the sector.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. met with Canada’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath Macdonald on 3 August at the Conrad Hotel in Manila to discuss ways to bolster agri-fishery ties.

The two countries’ cumulative bilateral agri-fishery trade reached USD2.39 billion between 2020 and 2024, with total agricultural trade climbing from USD327 million in 2020 to a peak of USD568 million in 2022. Philippine agri-fishery exports to Canada rose from USD109 million in 2020 to USD148 million in 2024 – the highest in five years.

“Canada remains a vital partner in supporting our vision for a more globally-competitive agriculture sector,” Tiu Laurel said.

The talks covered high-value crops, African Swine Fever response, food security, and free trade negotiations. Both sides reviewed the progress of the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement and raised the possibility of a bilateral FTA to expand market access and diversify trade.

The meeting also produced a Joint Statement on Technical Collaboration between the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, focusing on plant health, capacity building, regulatory cooperation, and the exchange of innovations to boost productivity.

Tiu Laurel was joined by Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero, Assistant Secretaries Benjamin Aberece and Paz Benavidez II, and officials from various DA offices.