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Sep 21, 2026 5:39 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramandeep Kaur with files from The Canadian Press
Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu has confirmed progress in trade discussions with India following his two-day visit to the country.
Sidhu has now travelled to the Philippines to attend a meeting of economic ministers from Southeast Asian countries. He said Canada will work to advance free trade agreement negotiations with both ASEAN and the Philippines.
According to figures shared by Sidhu, Canada’s trade with Asian countries increased by 23.4 per cent last year, reaching $52.3 billion. If a new agreement is finalized, it is expected to create 14,000 well-paying jobs in Canada and add more than $1.5 billion to the country’s GDP.
Meanwhile, Canada and the Philippines are targeting a doubling of bilateral trade to $7.4 billion by 2035 through a free trade agreement.
The move is part of Canada’s broader strategy to double exports to markets outside the United States and expand opportunities for Canadian businesses across the Asia-Pacific region.
