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Building Economic Security through Strengthened Canada-Philippines Partnership

Hema Nadarajah, Momo Sakudo, Amanda Doyle
March 8, 2026
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A Background Note in support of APF Canada’s Canada-Philippines Track 1.5 dialogue on economic security on March 11-13, 2026, in Manila, Philippines. This strategic dialogue is an APF Canada event co-hosted with the Embassy of Canada to the Philippines and Stratbase.

Amid the ongoing geopolitical shocks and supply-chain disruptions cascading across production networks and financial systems, economic security has emerged as a central policy priority for Canada and the Philippines. Both countries are seeking to balance resilience with continued market integration— Canada through diversification, trusted partnerships, and standards based co-operation under its Indo-Pacific Strategy, and the Philippines through infrastructure modernization, digitalization, energy security, and investment promotion within existing institutional constraints. The central challenge for both remains mitigating sectors pecific vulnerabilities while preserving the long-term gains of open economic integration. 

The Philippines-Canada relationship is underpinned by 76 years of sustained diplomatic engagement, expanding security co-operation, strong economic ties, and strong people-to-people ties. In October 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit and announced their intention to imminently launch negotiations on a bilateral Canada-Philippines free trade agreement. This announcement came at a pivotal time for Canada, which is aiming to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports in the next decade. 

With Canada-ASEAN relations elevated to a Strategic Partnership, the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairmanship adds a multilateral dimension to Canada-Philippines cooperation, especially where bilateral initiatives align with ASEAN priorities. As ASEAN Chair, the Philippines has highlighted regional stability, supply-chain resilience, digital integration, and infrastructure connectivity as priorities within the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 framework. 

With the impending Canada-ASEAN FTA and bilateral Canada-Philippines FTA negotiations, APF Canada’s Canada-Philippines Track 1.5 Dialogue on Economic Security offers a timely opportunity to deepen co-operation on economic resilience. 

Hema Nadarajah

Research Areas: Arctic governance, Outer Space, climate change, energy transitions in Southeast Asia
 
Dr. Hema Nadarajah is Senior Program Manager at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, where she leads research programs on Southeast Asia, the Arctic, and Outer Space. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia's School of Public Policy and Global Affairs.
 
Hema holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from UBC, where her research focused on governance in the Arctic, climate change, and outer space, as well as degrees in climate change from the University of Toronto and the Australian National University. She has consulted for Canada's Department of National Defence on Arctic sovereignty and for WWF on energy transition in Southeast Asia, and previously worked with the Government of Singapore on climate change and biodiversity conservation. 
 
Hema is an advisor and mentor with the Canadian International Council and a Senior Fellow at Arctic360. She recently appeared on CBC's What on Earth podcast to discuss Canada's defence investments and climate commitments.

Hema Nadarajah's latest posts:

Summary Report: Strengthening Canada–Indonesia Relations: Highlights from the Canadian Tour of the CSIS Indonesia Delegation The High Seas Treaty and the South China Sea: Canada's Role in a Contested Maritime Order Summary Report: Navigating Emerging Geopolitical Dynamics in the Canadian Arctic and North Pacific Read more >

Momo Sakudo

Momo Sakudo is a Consultant, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Networks, with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the School of Public Affairs at Sciences Po Paris and a dual Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and Sciences Po Paris. As a Japanese national living in Canada, Momo is interested in exploring Asia's growing role in the international community.

Momo Sakudo's latest posts:

Canada-Singapore Strategic Frontiers in AI and Quantum (AI+Q) Technologies The Future of Food Security in the Asia Pacific: Insights from Business Leaders Japan’s New ‘Women, Peace and Security’ Task Force an Opportunity for Canada Read more >

Amanda Doyle

Amanda Doyle is a Senior Program Manager at the Asia Pacific Foundation where she oversees the Foundation's APEC Networks. She has a master’s degree in Public Policy and Global Affairs from the University of British Columbia, where she specialized in global governance and security in the Asia Pacific. 

Prior to joining APF Canada, Amanda served as a senior political advisor across various levels of government and in the private sector.

Amanda Doyle's latest posts:

The Future of Food Security in the Asia Pacific: Insights from Business Leaders E-Formalization: How the Digital Economy Can Unlock & Empower APEC Economies

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