On a Saturday morning in mid-November, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stepped off a plane in Manila, the first stop on a nine-day journey through Asia that carries him to Ireland, the Philippines, Cambodia and China. He arrives as a guest of the 49th ASEAN Summit, a gathering of a bloc that together forms the world's fifth-largest economy, hoping to turn a long courtship of trade into signed commitments. Whether those hopes ripen into agreements or remain promises, the trip reflects a nation in search of partners beyond its familiar markets.
Carney Arrives in Manila as Canada Pursues ASEAN and Philippine Trade Deals
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On a Saturday morning in mid-November, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stepped off a plane in Manila, the first stop on a nine-day journey through Asia that carries him to Ireland, the Philippines, Cambodia and China. He arrives as a guest of the 49th ASEAN Summit, a gathering of a bloc that together forms the world's fifth-largest economy, hoping to turn a long courtship of trade into signed commitments. Whether those hopes ripen into agreements or remain promises, the trip reflects a nation in search of partners beyond its familiar markets.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney landed in Manila on Saturday, Nov. 14, opening the Southeast Asian leg of a trip that runs through Ireland, the Philippines, Cambodia and China. It is his first visit to the Philippines since taking office, and he comes for the 49th ASEAN Summit as a Guest of the Chair. Ottawa frames the journey as a way to diversify Canada's partnerships, widen trade and attract new investment.
Two agreements anchor the mission. Carney hopes to finalize a Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement, which Canada says could unlock more than $3.5 billion in exports to a region it describes as among the fastest-growing in the world. He also aims to conclude a separate Canada-Philippines deal, expected to triple bilateral trade by 2035.
The interest is grounded in numbers. ASEAN as a bloc ranked as the world's fifth-largest economy in 2025 and holds the third-largest population. Two-way merchandise trade with Canada reached $52.5 billion that year, up 23.7 percent from 2024.
Carney has cast the visit in sweeping terms: Canada, he said, has the energy, resources, talent, technology and capital the world wants, and it is "just getting started." Whether that confidence turns into signed agreements by the time he departs Manila is the question that will define the stop.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney landed in Manila on Saturday morning, Nov. 14, the opening stop of his Southeast Asian leg and his first visit to the Philippines since taking office. He has come for the 49th ASEAN Summit, where he will take part as a Guest of the Chair.
The Manila stop sits inside a nine-day trip, running Nov. 11 to 19, that takes Carney to Ireland, the Philippines, Cambodia and China. Ottawa describes the journey as an effort to diversify Canada's international partnerships, expand trade and draw new investment.
Two trade agreements are at the center of it. Carney is expected to work toward finalizing negotiations on a Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement, which the Canadian government says could unlock more than $3.5 billion in exports to Southeast Asia, one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the world. He will also try to conclude talks on a separate Canada-Philippines free trade agreement, which is expected to triple trade between the two countries by 2035.
The numbers Canada cites help explain the interest. According to the Canadian government, ASEAN as a bloc was the world's fifth-largest economy in 2025 and had the third-largest population. Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and ASEAN reached $52.5 billion that year, a 23.7 percent increase over 2024.
In a statement issued Nov. 4, the Canadian government said Carney's participation would advance Canada's interests in trade, investment, culture and security. Carney framed it in broader terms: "Canada has what the world wants: the energy, the resources, the talent, the technology, and the capital. We are building our strength at home and diversifying our partnerships abroad," he said, adding that Canada is "boldly unleashing our enormous potential, and we are just getting started."
The Philippines is hosting the summit and its related meetings from Nov. 15 to 17 under the theme "Navigating Our Future, Together," with an emphasis on building a peaceful, resilient and future-ready ASEAN. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., this year's chair, will lead discussions on regional cooperation and on emerging regional and global challenges, including the situation in Myanmar. At the ASEAN Plenary Session, Carney, Brazil's leader and a representative of the International Monetary Fund will each deliver remarks as Guests of the Chair.
The Related Summits, on Nov. 16 and 17, bring ASEAN leaders together with dialogue partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the United Nations and the United States. On Nov. 17 the Philippines will also convene the 29th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 21st East Asia Summit. The final day includes an ASEAN-United States Special Summit attended by US President Donald Trump, followed by the closing ceremony and the handover of the ASEAN chairship to Singapore.
What to watch is whether Carney leaves Manila with either agreement concluded. The Canada-ASEAN deal and the Canada-Philippines deal are both on his agenda, and the projected gains, $3.5 billion in new exports and tripled bilateral trade by 2035, are Canada's own estimates.
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Leia o original em Manila Bulletin ↗