Manila, March 13 -- The Philippines is planning to push for the conclusion of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) within its chairship of the bloc in 2026, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Friday.

"During our chairship of the ASEAN this year, part of our priority economic deliverable would be to sign and conclude the Canada-ASEAN FTA, plus, of course, to even go faster on a Philippines-Canada FTA," DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said during a Canada Embassy-led Stratbase forum in Makati City.

Ottawa and Manila launched the first rounds of FTA negotiations in 2022.

In the last ASEAN-Canada Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) meeting in September 2025, ...