Canada seeks views on upcoming free trade agreement negotiations

News release

December 13, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Canada is committed to building strong, diversified international partnerships that drive economic growth and create good jobs for Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, announced the launch of public consultations on four free trade agreement negotiations. Each of these agreements has the potential to create business opportunities and improve market access for Canadian goods and services in several fast-growing economies around the world.

As part of Canada’s work to double Canadian exports to non-U.S. markets in the next decade, these agreements will help build stronger and more reliable trade relationships around the world.

Public consultations will help shape Canada’s negotiating positions, ensuring benefits are maximized for Canadians by reflecting their specific interests and priorities.

Canadians are invited to share their views in the following consultations:

Comments can be submitted until January 27, 2026.

Quotes

“Canada is working to strengthen trade with reliable partners around the world and aims to double Canadian exports to non-U.S. markets in the next decade, which would generate $300 billion more in trade. Pursuing new trade negotiations will help reach this objective, open new markets and opportunities for our workers and businesses and create high-paying jobs across the country as part of our trade diversification strategy.”

- Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade

Quick facts

India and Thailand are key partners as Canada strengthens its economic links to the Indo-Pacific under a comprehensive strategy for the region.
In 2024, India was Canada’s seventh-largest goods and services trading partner, with two-way trade totalling $30.8 billion.
In 2024, Canada’s merchandise exports to India were $5.3 billion, increasing by 3.5% from 2023, and Canada’s service exports were $15.6 billion.
In 2024, Thailand was the third-largest Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economy and was Canada’s second-largest merchandise trading partner in ASEAN.
In 2024, Canadian merchandise exports to Thailand were valued at $1.0 billion and imports at over $5.3 billion.
In 2024, Canada’s two-way merchandise trade with the United Arab Emirates was valued at $3.4 billion, with $2.6 billion in exports and $801.8 million in imports.
The United Arab Emirates was Canada’s top merchandise export destination in the Middle East in 2024. Canadian merchandise exports to the United Arab Emirates increased by 24.0% in 2024 compared to the previous year, following a 14.2% rise between 2022 and 2023.
The Mercosur bloc, consisting of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, represented a collective GDP of $4.1 trillion and a combined population of 282 million in 2024. As a bloc, it was the world’s eighth-largest economy in 2024.
In 2024, Canada’s merchandise trade with Mercosur totalled $15.8 billion, with Canada’s exports valued at $3.1 billion and imports valued at $12.8 billion.

Associated links

Contacts

Erin Quevillon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade
343-203-7332
Erin.Quevillon@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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2025-12-13

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