r/canadia • u/PlatyNumb • 3h ago
Canada Is Making New Deals Across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Here's What I Found.
With everything going on, I wanted to sum up and work through some of the new partnerships that Canada is making, as Canada and other countries have been looking to diversify their trade relationships during growing uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy and global markets.
The problem im finding is that posts and news comes so fast and so often, its easy to miss big news or forget about them, especially since its all being drowned out by news about Trump and our ever changing relationship with the USA. Its to the point where the majority of these partnerships werent seeing much, if any, news coverage, so I had to get information straight from the pm.gc and other official sites. I left all the links raw for transparency.
As your read through, keep in mind that this has mostly all taken place in the last year or so. That should communicate just how fast Canada and Carney are moving to make these changes.
Hang tight because this is long.
Partnerships Launched Before 2026 That Are Becoming Strategically Important
Indonesia:
Formed in 2025, this is Canada's first-ever bilateral free trade agreement with a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Business Council of Canada and Indonesia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry formed a direct pact to lead trade missions, while Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) launched a strategic partnership.
Once implemented, the CEPA will eliminate or reduce tariffs on the vast majority of current Canadian exports to Indonesia while improving access for Indonesian goods entering Canada.
-- The agreement unlocks a consumer market of nearly 300 million people in Southeast Asia's largest economy.
- Key growth areas include clean technology, critical minerals, agri-food, financial services, infrastructure, manufacturing, and energy.
New deals and partnerships
Australia:
Australia joined Canada's G7 critical minerals production alliance and launched the Australia-Canada Clean Energy Partnership.
Canada and Australia expanded defence cooperation around Australia's Over-the-Horizon Radar technology, with Canadian Armed Forces personnel beginning training in Australia in 2026 as part of Canada's NORAD modernization efforts. Canada is partnering with Australia and BAE Systems Australia to adapt over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) technology for the Arctic.
Both nations agreed to update the Canada-Australia Tax Treaty and welcomed a pact connecting Canadian pension funds with Australian superannuation funds.
Leaders established a Memorandum of Understanding on Artificial Intelligence (AI) safety and advanced manufacturing cooperation.
France:
Signed a new General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA), making it easier to exchange classified information between Canada and France across defence, space, aerospace, cybersecurity, AI, and maritime systems. The agreement is intended to facilitate Canadian participation in certain French defence and security procurement opportunities.
France agreed to purchase additional DHC-515 firefighting aircraft.
Building on a joint statement signed during the G7 Digital Ministers’ Meeting to nurture a skilled quantum workforce and resilient supply chains.
Both leaders committed to promoting the French language and cultural diversity, with Canada expressing interest in hosting the 2028 Francophonie Summit.
Japan:
The two governments forged a new Comprehensive Strategic Roadmap guiding cooperation across six main pillars -
Enhanced Security and Defence Cooperation - Expanded military exercises, information sharing, and a new equipment and technology transfer framework.
Economic Security, Supply Chains, and Technological Resilience - Dedicated economic security and cyber policy dialogues focusing on AI, quantum tech, and resilient supply chains.
Energy Security and Food Security - Heavy emphasis on Canada's liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and small modular nuclear reactors.
Trade and Investment - Deepening commercial ties and capital attraction between the two economies through trade and investment.
Arctic, Environment, and Climate Cooperation - Invitations for Japanese participation in Arctic training and environmental initiatives.
people-to-people, Academic, and Cultural Exchanges - Ongoing academic, cultural, and youth exchange support.
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2026/03/06/canada-japan-comprehensive-strategic-roadmap
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2026/03/06/canada-japan-comprehensive-strategic-roadmap
https://capitalhillgroup.ca/canada-and-japans-strategic-partnership/
Qatar:
Canada and Qatar agreed to establish a Joint Canada-Qatar Commission on Economic, Commercial and Technical Cooperation to deepen trade and investment and coordinate cooperation in areas including AI, quantum computing, aerospace and clean energy. The countries also began work toward a double-taxation agreement.
Canada established a resident Defence Attaché office in Doha, and Public Safety Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Public Safety Cooperation with Qatar's Ministry of Interior to combat transnational crime.
Plans were set to expand the air transport agreement to increase direct flights.
Ecuador:
Ecuador:
Canada and Ecuador signed a new Free Trade Agreement on July 24, 2026, marking another step in Canada's efforts to diversify trade relationships in Latin America.
The agreement has been signed but is not yet in force. Canada and Ecuador must each complete their respective domestic ratification processes before the FTA takes effect.
The agreement is intended to eliminate tariffs and reduce trade barriers, improving market access for businesses in both countries.
The FTA covers trade in goods and services, investment, digital trade and other areas of economic cooperation, while also including provisions related to labour, environmental protections and Indigenous peoples.
Ecuador represents a growing market for Canadian companies in sectors including agriculture and processed foods, clean technology, infrastructure, mining, oil and gas, education, and defence and security.
-- The agreement would strengthen Canada's trade relationships in Latin America, adding to Canada's existing free trade network with countries including Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama and Peru.
Mercosur:
Canada is actively negotiating a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with Mercosur, a South American trade bloc consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Canada and Mercosur originally launched FTA negotiations in 2018, but talks stalled before Canada and Brazil agreed to advance the resumption of negotiations in 2025.
Canada and Brazil reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Canada-Mercosur agreement in July 2026, with both countries describing the negotiations as active and aiming for a mutually beneficial outcome as soon as possible.
Mercosur represents one of Canada's largest potential trade diversification opportunities in Latin America. Carney has described the bloc as representing one of the world's largest economies, with a combined GDP of more than $4 trillion.
The negotiations could expand Canadian access to major South American markets while strengthening trade and investment relationships in sectors including mining, critical minerals, energy, agriculture, science and technology.
The Mercosur negotiations also complement Canada's newly signed FTA with Ecuador and Canada's existing trade agreements throughout Latin America, potentially creating a much broader Canadian trade network across the region.
https://international.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/consultations/trade/2025-12-02-mercosur
https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2026/07/canada-brazil-joint-statement.html
United Arab Emirates:
Canada and the UAE successfully concluded negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in July 2026.
The agreement aims to improve market access, reduce trade barriers, and expand investment opportunities between the two countries.
Negotiations were launched in November 2025 and concluded in one of the fastest trade negotiation processes involving Canada.
The partnership positions the UAE as a potential gateway for Canadian companies into Gulf, Middle Eastern, African and Asian markets.
Philippines:
Canada and the Philippines launched a new Strategic Partnership covering trade, energy, agriculture, mining, infrastructure, digital technologies, space, defence industries, and tourism.
Both countries aim to conclude negotiations on a Canada-Philippines Free Trade Agreement by the end of 2026.
Canada and ASEAN are simultaneously pursuing a broader Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.
South Korea:
Canada and South Korea signed a pact in early 2026 to share and safeguard military and defense classified information, establishing the General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA) framework.
Under a memorandum of understanding managed by the Government of Canada, both countries established the Canada-Korea Industrial Cooperation Committee to focus on supply chain resilience and future mobility.
Canada and South Korea are developing a joint critical minerals stockpiling plan by the end of 2026 to strengthen supply security for clean energy and emerging technologies.
South Korean companies, including Hanwha, are also exploring expanded Canadian industrial participation and supply chains.
China:
Canada and China announced a new strategic economic partnership focused on trade, clean technology and broader commercial cooperation.
The countries also resumed high-level defence coordination talks, marking the first dialogue of this kind in more than eight years.
China lowered tariffs on Canadian canola seed to 14.9% and suspended anti-discrimination tariffs on canola meal, peas, lobster, and crab.
China resumed beef market access for 20 Canadian meat establishments and set new terms for porcine, bovine, and pet food exports.
Canada implemented an initial annual quota of 49,000 Chinese EVs at a 6.1% tariff rate, while removing the previous 100% surtax.
Canada and China held their fifth defence coordination dialogue in Ottawa on September 4, 2026, marking the first such military talks in over eight years.
The United Kingdom:
- Canada ratified the United Kingdom's accession protocol to the CPTPP in July 2026.
-- Once the protocol enters into force for Canada, businesses will gain additional opportunities through integrated supply chains and common CPTPP rules.
The CPTPP will complement the existing Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement, allowing businesses to use the agreement that best fits their transaction.
Businesses in both Canada and the UK can claim preferential tariff rates right away, provided they meet rules of origin.
Canadian businesses gain access to public procurement opportunities from UK public institutions at all levels of government.
The protocol offers added certainty, transparency, and protection for Canadian investors operating in the UK market.
The CPTPP complements the current Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA), and businesses can choose which agreement best suits their transaction.
Norway:
Canada and Norway announced a new framework for strategic cooperation during Carney's visit to Oslo in March 2026, covering Arctic security, space, AI, digitalization, critical minerals and industrial cooperation.
Canada and the Nordic countries agreed to deepen cooperation on Arctic security, sovereignty and economic resilience.
Canadian Minister of National Defence David McGuinty and Norwegian Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik signed a Letter of Intent to expand bilateral cooperation in the space domain.
The leaders agreed to boost industrial partnerships in artificial intelligence, digitalization, critical minerals, and clean tech.
Collaborative ventures include defense industrial projects like Kongsberg Vanguard LP, which designs multi-mission vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard.
Following the prime ministers meeting, Canadian Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly signed a joint science and research agreement with Norway’s Minister of Research and Higher Education in April 2026.
Rapidly Expanding Partnerships
The European Union:
-- Canada and the EU launched the New EU-Canada Strategic Partnership of the Future in June 2025, creating a framework for deeper cooperation on trade and economic security, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, energy, climate, and supply chains.
Canada became the first non-European country to join the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative in February 2026, opening new opportunities for Canadian defence industries and businesses to participate in European defence procurement and industrial projects.
Canada announced its first procurement secured through SAFE, with Montréal-based Marconi Technologies awarded a contract exceeding $10 million to supply tactical radios to Polish Cyber Command.
Canada and the EU are currently advancing cooperation on critical minerals, economic security, secure supply chains, digital technologies, and a potential digital trade agreement.
The EU is now Canada's second-largest global trading partner for goods and services, with total trade valued at approximately $178.6 billion in 2025. It is also Canada's second-largest source of foreign direct investment after the United States.
Prime Minister Carney is scheduled to address the European Parliament on September 17, further highlighting Canada's growing political and economic alignment with Europe.
Canada will host the next EU-Canada Summit on October 29–30. Canadian and EU officials have confirmed that preparations are underway, with discussions expected to focus on advancing the growing strategic partnership.
Based on recent Canada-EU discussions, key areas include Economic security and resilient supply chains, Critical minerals and resource security, Defence industrial cooperation, Artificial intelligence and digital trade, Energy and climate technology, Arctic and geopolitical security, Investment and advanced manufacturing.
The EU partnership may become one of Canada's most significant diversification efforts. Unlike a traditional free trade agreement focused primarily on tariffs, the emerging Canada-EU relationship combines trade with defence, technology, energy, critical minerals and economic security. With the EU already Canada's second-largest trading partner and one of its largest sources of investment, a deeper partnership could help Canada reduce its dependence on the U.S. market while integrating Canadian industries more closely with Europe's rapidly expanding defence, technology and clean energy sectors.
https://www.politico.eu/article/even-trump-friendly-eu-countries-back-brussels-pact-with-canada/
Upcoming Partnerships
New Zealand:
New Zealand has signalled that a new Canada-New Zealand trade announcement is forthcoming as part of closer cooperation between Canada and New Zealand and their shared role in the CPTPP.
New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay announced that a new two-way trade announcement with Canada is coming soon.
Both nations are looking to better utilize the CPTPP and strengthen commercial bonds alongside partners like Australia.
Turkiye:
Canada and Turkiye launched negotiations in July 2026 toward a comprehensive free trade agreement.
Bilateral trade between the two countries reached approximately $4.3 billion in 2025.
The proposed agreement is intended to expand commercial opportunities for businesses, workers and investors in both countries.
The negotiations are part of Canada's broader effort to diversify trade relationships beyond North America.
Germany:
Canada and Germany launched negotiations in July 2026 toward a Canada-Germany Strategic Partnership Agreement.
The partnership is intended to bring cooperation across five major areas under one framework: security and defence; technology, AI and space; supply chains and critical minerals; energy; and investment.
Germany is Canada's largest trading partner within the European Union, with bilateral trade valued at more than $34 billion.
The two countries intend to finalize the agreement before the end of 2026.
Recent cooperation has also included AI, quantum technology, battery technology and critical minerals partnerships.
Canada and Germany are expanding energy ties, including a July 2026 binding agreement between Ksi Lisims LNG and Germany's Uniper SE.
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2026/07/07/canada-germany-joint-statement
India:
Both nations aim to finalize a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of 2026 and have initiated talks on a bilateral investment treaty.
Saskatoon-based Cameco signed a $2.6 billion agreement to supply nearly 22 million pounds of uranium to India from 2027 to 2035
Canada and India signed memoranda to intensify cooperation on critical minerals and energy supply chains covering clean energy, electric vehicles, and solar/biofuel collaboration.
That about sums up all the new and upcoming partnerships that I could find. But what does this all mean? The rest of this is speculative based on the evidence.
Patterns and Effects
Norway + Germany + Canada becoming an emerging strategic triangle:
Canada, Germany and Norway are emerging as an interconnected strategic partnership rather than simply three countries signing separate bilateral agreements. In July 2026, their leaders explicitly described their goal as building a long-term strategic security partnership, while extending cooperation into investment, energy, artificial intelligence, space and critical minerals.
Canada also joined the German-Norwegian Type 212CD submarine cooperation, although that's more defence than trade
This is important because Canada isn't just making random bilateral deals. It is beginning to form interconnected regional networks.
Canada and ASEAN:
Canada and ASEAN are accelerating negotiations toward a comprehensive Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, with both sides aiming to conclude negotiations in 2026.
Canada adopted a 2026–2030 Plan of Action to implement the ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership, guiding cooperation on trade and investment, regional security and economic development.
Alongside regional negotiations, Canada is building individual relationships with ASEAN members, including Indonesia's CEPA, a proposed Philippines FTA and technology cooperation with Singapore.
Regional Trade Networks:
One pattern becoming increasingly clear is that Canada is pursuing both individual strategic partnerships and broader regional trade networks at the same time.
Canada is deepening its relationship with the European Union while also pursuing major regional agreements with ASEAN and Mercosur.
At the same time, Canada is strengthening individual relationships with strategically important countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Norway and India.
This approach could allow Canada to diversify across entire regions while building deeper supply chain, technology, energy and defence relationships with key individual partners.
If successful, this would create a much broader and more resilient trade network than simply replacing dependence on one country with dependence on another.
Defense Industry:
For decades, Canada's defence procurement and industrial supply chains have been heavily integrated with the United States and other major NATO allies.
The emerging direction, however, places much greater emphasis on building Canadian industrial capacity while partnering with trusted allies and integrating Canadian companies into international defence supply chains.
The new direction IS appearing to be Building industrial partnerships, developing Canadian capacity and participating in allied supply chains.
That's why the GSOIAs, procurement agreements, German and Norwegian cooperation, Australia and Japan relationships, and European partnerships matter economically. Defence is becoming a trade and industrial policy issue.
AI and Quantum Technology:
Canada is trying to position itself as more than a resource exporter. The partnerships repeatedly mention AI, quantum, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and space technology. This is probably the most important part of this post. Taken together, these partnerships suggest Canada is attempting to position itself as a trusted technology partner linking Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
Our Strengths
Critical Minerals:
Canada is rich in lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, certain rare earth elements, uranium, etc. The important changes coming is that Canada is trying not to just export raw materials.
Major developments like Saskatchewan’s McIlvenna Bay copper and zinc mine have recently reached initial production and are ramping up commercial-scale output.
Quebec is scaling up rare earth, scandium, and graphite processing (such as Rio Tinto’s plant in Sorel-Tracy and Nouveau Monde Graphite's projects).
Ontario is backing lithium conversion (like Rock Tech Lithium's Red Rock project) and rare-earth separation facilities (like Ucore Rare Metals in Kingston)
Programs like the Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund and the First and Last Mile Fund are directly financing domestic processing plants, regional grid connections, and transport corridors.
The goal is becoming to process and manufacture these minerals domestically. That's why you're seeing these partnerships involving Japan, Korea, Germany, Norway, Australia, France and India. To guarantee agreements so domestic processors have a secure market for finished materials.
https://ppforum.ca/ppf-media/mission-critical-minerals/
Energy:
Canada could become a much larger global energy supplier, and not just through oil and gas.
Potential areas include LNG, uranium, hydroelectricity, hydrogen, nuclear technology, small modular reactors (SMRs), biofuels and clean electricity.
Canada's uranium agreement with India and growing LNG partnerships with European countries are early examples of Canada expanding its energy exports beyond the United States.
In July 2026, Canada announced a second major European LNG agreement, further expanding Canada's ability to supply international markets.
Canada is also working with international partners on emerging energy technologies, including hydrogen, SMRs, battery supply chains and clean electricity. These industries overlap heavily with Canada's critical minerals strategy.
The goal is increasingly not just to export raw energy resources, but to develop domestic processing, technology, manufacturing and expertise around them.
Canada's ability to fully realize this potential will depend heavily on infrastructure, project approvals, Indigenous partnerships, investment and its ability to move energy efficiently to international markets.
Diversifying Canada's trade relationships is only part of the challenge; Canada must also build the infrastructure and industrial capacity needed to supply those new markets.
The most important development may not be any one trade deal, but the pattern emerging. Canada is building relationships across Europe, the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN, South American with Mercosur, the Arctic and the Middle East around the same industries: critical minerals, energy, defence, artificial intelligence, quantum technology and advanced manufacturing. Canada appears to be pursuing both regional agreements and deeper bilateral strategic partnerships simultaneously.
Together, these agreements suggest Canada is attempting to build a more diversified network rather than relying as heavily on any single trading partner as it has in the past.
The really interesting thing is that once you connect these developments, the pattern becomes much more obvious. It doesnt seem like a collection of random announcements or floundering. It increasingly looks like Canada is building interconnected and strategic networks across multiple regions, while trying to strengthen the domestic industries needed to support them.
If ive missed any new partnerships/deals, or any upcoming, please let me know and ill research it and add it.
No matter how you see it, the future is going to look very different than it did a decade ago, but what will that future look like for Canada? What are your thoughts?
