Your Seat at the Table: Highlights from the Canada–Philippines FTA Community Trade Talks

On the evening of Thursday, September 10, 2026, Filipino-Canadian entrepreneurs, professionals, community leaders, and diplomats filled the 10th floor of Limberlost Place at George Brown Polytechnic's Waterfront Campus in Toronto. They came for one reason: to learn what the Canada–Philippines Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) could mean for their businesses, and to make sure the community's voice was part of the conversation.

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto hosted the Community Trade Talks, which were organized in partnership with the Philippine Canadian Chamber of Commerce (PCCC), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce Toronto (PCCT), the Philippine Business Council of Canada (PBCC), and PWRForward. George Brown Polytechnic was the venue partner.

Why this moment matters

The timing was significant. Prime Minister Carney and President Marcos Jr. announced their intention to launch negotiations on a bilateral Canada–Philippines free trade agreement, with the goal of concluding it in 2026. Once signed, the agreement will be the Philippines' first FTA with a North American country.

The numbers show there is already a strong base to build on. In 2025, trade between the two countries reached $2.15 billion. Philippine exports to Canada totalled $1.31 billion, while Philippine imports from Canada were valued at $840 million. Behind those figures is a community of about a million Canadians of Filipino descent living across the country, including in remote areas. That community is one of the agreement's greatest assets.

Hearing from the negotiators and leaders

Attendees heard directly from the people shaping the agreement:

• Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty, International Trade Group, Philippine Department of Trade and Industry
• Jay Allen, Chief Negotiator, Global Affairs Canada
• Ambassador Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga, Ambassador of the Philippines to Canada
• Hon. Mary Ng, Former Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development of Canada

We thank Hon. Kristine Leilani R. Salle, Consul General of the Philippines in Toronto, and the Consulate team for convening the evening.

What's in the agreement for business

The discussion covered the key areas the agreement is expected to address:

• Tariff relief on goods moving between the two countries
• Simpler sourcing for importers and manufacturers
• Services and digital commerce rules for firms that sell expertise and online services
• Intellectual property protection for creators and innovators
• Professional mobility and credential recognition for skilled workers and trades

The sectors with the clearest early opportunities are food and agricultural manufacturing, creative and design services, and skilled professionals and trades.

The challenge: making sure businesses actually use it

One message came through clearly. A trade agreement is only valuable if businesses use it, and small businesses have historically underused FTAs. The main reasons are that rules of origin and customs procedures can be confusing, and many owners don't know where to start.

The community Q&A reflected this. Participants asked practical questions about tariff timelines, export financing, and whether Philippine credentials will be recognized here in Canada. Several items are still being finalized and are worth watching closely:

• Final tariff schedules
• The parliamentary ratification timeline
• Provincial mechanisms for credential recognition
• Export financing tools for small and medium-sized enterprises

A national effort, not just a Toronto one

The strongest consensus of the evening was that Filipino-Canadian business organizations need to work together nationally, so that businesses in every province can benefit from the agreement and not only those in the Greater Toronto Area.

PCCC is ready to serve as a national connector and resource hub that supports chambers and business organizations across Canada. We see five roles for ourselves:

• Connect regional chambers. We will link provincial and local business groups into a network that shares market intelligence.
• Amplify regional voices. We will gather input from businesses on the ground so that every region's priorities are heard.
• Share resources nationally. We will build plain-language briefings and toolkits together, which any chamber can use with its members.
• Facilitate connections. We will help businesses find partners across provinces and across the Pacific.
• Coordinate national programming. We will schedule B2B matchmaking, sector roundtables, and credential forums so that momentum keeps building and every region benefits.

What's next from PCCC

Our goal is simple: Filipino-Canadian businesses should understand the CPFTA and use it from day one of implementation. In the coming months, PCCC will roll out:

• Plain-language trade briefings on what the agreement means in practice
• Sector-specific roundtables for food and agri-manufacturing, creative services, and professionals and trades
• B2B matchmaking between Canadian and Philippine businesses
• Ongoing advocacy that brings members' concerns forward as the agreement moves toward signing and ratification

Take your seat at the table

Whether you already trade between Canada and the Philippines or are only starting to explore the idea, now is the time to get involved.

• Connect with your local chamber or business association, and encourage it to join the national conversation.
• Join PCCC to receive our upcoming briefings and event invitations.
• Tell us what you need. What questions, barriers, or opportunities should we bring forward?

Email media@philippinecanadianchamber.com · Visit www.philippinecanadianchamber.com · Call 647-860-1180 | 647-333-4829 | 647-391-7487

Together, we can turn the strong relationship between Canada and the Philippines into greater trade, investment, and opportunity for our community.

Thank you to the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, George Brown Polytechnic, PCCT, PBCC, PWRForward, and everyone who attended and took part.