Manila, Nov. 15 -- The Philippines-Canada free trade agreement (FTA) which concluded Saturday will allow the Philippines to access more North American countries, an economist said.

The FTA is scheduled to be signed in 2027.

Michael Ricafort, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist, said the FTA "is a potential FTA proxy with the US and other North American countries that do not have yet an FTA with the Philippines."

"Thus, Philippine two-way international trade and investments with Canada will increase further, as a proxy/indirect trade through FDIs (foreign direct investments) in both countries, by capitalizing further on existing FTAs of both countries," he said.

Government data showed that Canada is the Philippines' 16...