Mark Carney and Sanae Takaichi have signed a new strategic partnership agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation between Canada and Japan in areas including defence, energy, trade and technology.
The agreement was announced during Carney’s visit to Tokyo, the final stop of his 10-day Indo-Pacific trip that also included Australia and India.
Speaking at a joint media appearance, Carney highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two countries and said the partnership builds on shared economic and security interests.
“We have much in common, and we’re enriched by each other’s cultures, perspectives and histories,” Carney said.
“This is a strong foundation on which we can build something even better, more prosperous, more ambitious.”
The prime minister also emphasized the strength of bilateral ties, noting that Canada and Japan already share about $40 billion in two-way trade and work together on security efforts in the Pacific region.
Expanded Cooperation
The new partnership includes several areas of cooperation, such as:
- Joint coast guard exercises
- International emergency response coordination
- Efforts to combat illegal fishing in the North Pacific
- Collaboration on cyber policy and Arctic security
- Joint work on climate change initiatives
Carney also announced that a Team Canada trade mission will travel to Japan in the coming months to promote investment and strengthen economic ties.
Focus on Energy and Critical Minerals
Energy and resource development are also key parts of the agreement.
Canada and Japan said they will expand cooperation on liquefied natural gas projects and work together to secure stable supply chains for critical minerals, which are essential for technologies such as electric vehicles, batteries and renewable energy systems.
Officials from both countries will also look for new investment opportunities, including potential participation from pension funds and other major investors.
The agreement reflects Canada’s broader push to strengthen alliances in the Indo-Pacific region and deepen economic partnerships with key democratic allies like Japan.