The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday that Canada and the Philippines will begin the first round of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement next week. According to the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, 'Canadian stakeholders have a high level of support for a potential free trade agreement between Canada and the Philippines.' A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Angelica Escalona, stated that 'the Philippines will host the official negotiations from February 18 to 20.' Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to start the talks, aiming to conclude them within a year, during their bilateral meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last October.
