International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu is travelling to India and the Philippines to advance trade negotiations, The Canadian Press reported on September 17. He said talks in India this week would seek opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses in aerospace, artificial intelligence, clean energy and critical minerals.
Sidhu also plans to meet Indian business leaders and investors to encourage investment in Canada. He said he intends to advance free-trade negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Philippines.
The minister said Canada’s exports to markets outside the United States grew 17 per cent, or $33 billion, over the past year. He also said Canada had signed more than 20 trade and security deals across five continents during that period, while pursuing negotiations involving Thailand, Qatar, Mercosur and Turkey.
The report did not announce a completed new agreement or give an exact timetable for the trip.
