Canada’s Carney touts Philippine trade deal on Asia tour

Manila: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Saturday that Ottawa had successfully concluded negotiations for a sweeping free-trade pact with the Philippines, as it seeks ways to reduce its reliance on the United States.

The US-Canada trade war has ruptured what was once one of the world’s closest economic partnerships.

While Canada’s trade surplus edged up in September, driven by higher oil exports, US President Donald Trump’s tariffs also pinched multiple sectors, data showed.

The deal with the Philippines was about six months away from being signed, Carney told reporters on the sidelines of a regional summit in Manila, where Trump is expected to arrive Tuesday.