The Philippines and Canada concluded their second Joint Economic Committee (JEC) meeting in Ottawa over the weekend with a focus on deepening collaboration on trade diversification, economic resilience and food security.
In a text message on Sunday, Philippine Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty said the 2nd JEC meeting is a “defining moment in our long-standing relationship anchored on strong diplomatic, economic and cultural ties.”
Gepty co-chaired the JEC held in Ottawa on June 6, 2025, with Global Affairs Assistant Deputy Minister Weldon Epp, Canada’s International Trade and Global Affairs (ITGA) said.
Gepty said areas of cooperation discussed during the most recent JEC included energy, information and communication technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, agriculture, food security, critical minerals, and exploratory talks on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
“We had a very successful JEC meeting with Canada, and it is good to see that our trade and investment relations are advancing,” Gepty said.
“Our long-standing relationship with Canada is anchored on strong diplomatic, economic and cultural ties,” he said.
Gepty said he presented the opportunities available under the new Public-Private Partnership Code and the incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy Act.
“As Canada is set to diversify, we want the Philippines to be its strategic and reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific region. This can be bolstered by constant engagement, active private sector involvement, and, ideally, a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). In our economic relations, we don’t want to limit engagement in trade in goods, but we want to invest in each other’s region, collaborate on product development and innovation, and ensure a robust trade in services,” Gepty said
In a social media post on Saturday, the Canadian organization said the JEC built on the momentum of last December’s Team Canada Trade Mission to the Philippines, “and reflects on both countries’ shared commitment to strengthening economic ties.”
Global Affairs (ITGA) said since the first JEC held in 2023, Canada and the Philippines have achieved several milestones: creation of new direct Air Canada flights between Vancouver and Manila; establishment of the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office; opening of an Export Development Canada office in Manila and; launch of exploratory talks on a potential bilateral free trade agreement.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque had said her department participated in exploratory discussions on a potential FTA between the Philippines and Canada during the Team Canada Trade Mission on Dec. 5, 2024.
Roque said the possible entry into FTA discussions represented a significant achievement in advancing bilateral trade and investment ties with the agreement’s potential to open new markets, attract investments, and drive innovation, which will support long-term economic growth and bring shared prosperity to both countries.
At the 1st JEC in February 2023, the DTI stated that Canada and the Philippines discussed new opportunities for collaboration in science, technology, and innovation, as well as energy transition, green metals, infrastructure, agriculture and food security, education, and the creative industries.
Bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and the Philippines in 2023 amounted to $3.4 billion, an increase of 9.7 percent from ($3.1 billion in 2022), the Canadian government said on its website.
Canadian merchandise exports to the Philippines in 2023 amounted to $1.2 billion.
In 2023, imports of Canadian merchandise from the Philippines were valued at $2.2 billion, representing a 21 percent increase from $1.9 billion in 2022.
