PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Joseph Carney address the media following a bilateral meeting on 2 July, in Vancouver, Canada. Mr. Marcos is in Canada for an official visit, the first by a Philippine President to that country in 11 years.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of Presidential Communications Office
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have both agreed to conclude the negotiations on a free-trade agreement between Canada and the Philippines that would reduce or eliminate tariffs on key goods, stimulate economic growth, and create massive new opportunities for both nations’ workers, businesses and investors.
The two leaders agreed to end discussions on the matter before the end of the year.
“Prime Minister Carney and I reaffirmed our commitment to conclude the negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement this year. We also renewed our commitment to increase our bilateral trade, stand against economic coercion, and build a resilient supply chain,” said Marcos during a joint press statement with Prime Minister Carney at the Vancouver Convention Centre on Thursday (Vancouver time).
Top Canadian imports
Among Canada’s top imports from the Philippines are electronics and machinery, while its major exports include mineral ores, meat, cereals, aerospace parts and fertilizers.
President Marcos and Prime Minister Carney held a one-on-one meeting discussing the positive trajectory of the two nations’ bilateral relations and future partnership.
Talks on the Philippine-Canada FTA were officially launched in late 2025.
Currently, there is also an ongoing discussion about an ASEAN-Canada FTA.
Jollibee visit
Meanwhile, the two leaders personally visited a Jollibee branch in Vancouver, a Filipino-Canadian-owned business that reflects growing business ties between the two nations.
President Marcos and Prime Minister Carney spoke with customers at Jollibee Granville, at 833 Granville Street in Vancouver and also sampled different Jollibee offerings.
One of the Philippines’ most globally recognized brands, Jollibee Foods Corp., has a growing international footprint across North America, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
In Canada, Jollibee is entering a significant growth phase, as the brand celebrates its 10th anniversary in the country.
Over the next few years, Jollibee plans to expand to over 85 locations, which is expected to support substantial job creation for Canadians and Filipinos, strengthen Philippines-Canada economic ties, increase exports of Philippine-made products, and boost Philippine services exports through franchising royalties.
