The Philippines and Canada are deepening their agricultural cooperation, with officials meeting to discuss trade, food security, and technical collaboration. Discussions included high-value crops, African Swine Fever response, and a potential free trade agreement.
The Philippines and Canada have renewed their commitment to deepening agricultural cooperation following a high-level meeting between Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and Canada’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath Macdonald.
The ministers met on August 3, 2025 at the Conrad Hotel in Manila to advance Philippine-Canada agri-fishery trade and technical collaboration.
“Canada remains a vital partner in supporting our vision for a more globally competitive agriculture sector,” Tiu Laurel said.
Discussions covered key areas of cooperation, including high-value crops, African Swine Fever (ASF) response, food security and trade liberalization.
The ministers also reviewed progress in the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and explored the possibility of a bilateral FTA to expand market access and diversification.
Both countries signed the joint statement on technical collaboration between the Philippines’ Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
The agreement will focus on plant health, capacity building, scientific and regulatory advancement, and the exchange of innovations to improve productivity.
Philippines and Canada noted the long-standing partnership, which has seen bilateral agri-fishery trade reach a cumulative $2.39 billion from 2020 to 2024.
Tiu Laurel noted the strong growth momentum, with total agricultural trade rising from $327 million in 2020 to $568 million in 2022.
Philippine agri-fishery exports to Canada climbed from $109 million in 2020 to $148 million in 2024, the highest in five years.
