‘Stronger Philippines-Canada ties needed for critical minerals supply chain’

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MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Canada must work together to develop “democratic” supply chains for critical minerals and reduce its dependence on China.

This was according to experts and diplomats who spoke during a high-level conference organized by the Stratbase Institute and the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) last Friday, which sought to discuss how Ottawa and Manila could strengthen their bilateral ties and cooperate to improve their economic security.

Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada vice president for research, specifically identified critical minerals – which underpin high-tech industries and advanced defense systems – as a cornerstone of the two nations’ deepening partnership and said the two countries must leverage their complementary strengths to build a more resilient economic future in the region.

“This is the moment to deploy our critical minerals, both for our digital needs and our sustainability goals, as well as obviously defense industrial actions,” Nadjibulla said.

She also underscored the strategic necessity of “building supply chains that are democratic, that are not just dependent on China,” to be able to navigate an increasingly “divided and dangerous” global landscape.

Stratbase Institute president Victor Andres Manhit reinforced this perspective, asserting that “economic security is national security” and that the Philippines is moving toward a new tax regime on mining and a “future mining fiscal framework for critical markets” to facilitate these strategic investments.

He argued that the Philippines’ geostrategic position and its young workforce are ready to contribute to securing these “abundant critical materials.”

As proof, Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said Manila is eyeing to hammer out a critical minerals deal with Ottawa similar to its bilateral pact with the United States, which itself was aggressively expanding its own critical minerals framework to secure supply chains.

“We hope that with Canada, we can also have a critical minerals agreement given the prominence that we’re putting on critical minerals,” Rodolfo said, adding that the deal was brought up during the 2026 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention in Toronto early this month.