Canada and the Philippines plan to finalize a free trade agreement this year, Prime Minister Mark Carney says. Carney made the announcement after Canada and the Philippines signed agreements aimed at deepening cooperation across several areas. The planned trade pact is intended to expand economic ties between the two countries, with both sides working toward completion within the year. In parallel with the trade negotiations, the countries sign cooperation arrangements covering energy, defense, labor, and migration. The defense component is presented as an effort to strengthen bilateral security cooperation, while the energy cooperation focuses on working together in that sector. Agreements related to labor and migration address aspects of people-to-people movement and workforce cooperation. The announcements reflect a broader effort to align economic engagement with expanded partnerships in security and social policy areas. The sources report that the agreements were signed during the same announcement, with the trade deal expected to be finalized before the year ends.