QUESTION PERIOD — Global Affairs
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
December 11, 2024
My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. Senator Gold, much has been said in recent weeks about the upcoming renegotiation of the Canada-United States-Mexico free trade agreement with the incoming Trump administration and the threat of tariffs on Canadian exports.
But I would like to turn our attention to free trade with the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly known as ASEAN. I wonder if you could provide us with an update on the status of Canada’s talks for this multi-billion dollar, multilateral free trade agreement with ASEAN. I read that Canada recently reaffirmed its commitment to the substantial conclusion of this agreement by the end of 2025.
Thank you, senator, for your question, and for highlighting this important work.
ASEAN is a fast-growing and dynamic market, and that’s why the government successfully elevated Canada to strategic partner with ASEAN. By negotiating a free trade agreement, the government is securing unparalleled market access to a fast-growing economic region of over 630 million consumers for Canadian businesses and Canadian goods. The government knows that growing global market access is good for business, good for workers and good for the economy, and the government will continue to pursue this important objective.
I noticed in the Canada Gazette this weekend that the government is now soliciting the views of Canadians on a possible free trade agreement with the Philippines alone, an ASEAN member. Can you explain the rationale behind this approach of conducting trade talks for a multilateral agreement with ASEAN and a bilateral agreement with the Philippines concurrently? Are you concerned the ASEAN deal won’t be signed? How advanced are these negotiations with the Philippines?
Thank you. The government remains confident that the work it’s doing with ASEAN is progressing well and will progress well. At the same time, as announced during the Team Canada Trade Mission to the Philippines only last week, the government is interested in exploring whether there is sufficient interest and sufficient benefit in pursuing separate bilateral negotiations with the Philippines, which if realized could lead to very important commercially beneficial outcomes for Canada and the Philippines that would go beyond the scope of the other agreement to which you were referring.
