TOKYO — Canada and Japan have signed a new strategic partnership agreement that looks to boost co-operation on defence, energy, trade and technology.
Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Friday to discuss closer collaboration on everything from cyber policy to Arctic security and climate change.
“We have much in common, and we’re enriched by each other’s cultures, perspectives and histories,” Carney said during a joint media event where both leaders made statements but took no questions.
“This is a strong foundation on which we can build something even better, more prosperous, more ambitious.”
Carney — who earned a smile from Takaichi by making some remarks in Japanese — touted the two countries’ close economic and security partnerships, including $40 billion in two-way trade and joint efforts to patrol the Pacific.
“We do much, but we’re ready to do much more,” he said.
On Saturday, Carney is meeting with representatives from Japanese companies Asahi Kasei, Sojitz, and Mitsui, and carmakers Toyota and Mitsubishi.
At a media availability, Carney was asked what his message will be to Japanese automakers in the context of the coming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade.
Carney said his government already has had discussions with the industry that have led to policy changes.
He said U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants as much production as possible for cars that are purchased in the United States.
“We can adopt that principle as well. We would do it through a market mechanism,” Carney told reporters. “A little over 70 per cent … of auto production in Canada is by the Japanese automakers, so they would be a beneficiary of that.”
The night before, Carney said a Team Canada trade mission will travel to Japan in “the next few months.”
Takaichi, speaking in Japanese, said the agreement marks “the first time our bilateral leaders’ statement has laid down a strategic direction in a comprehensive way.”
According to a translation provided by the Japanese government, Takaichi said that “Canada is a like-minded partner of Japan, together promoting (a) free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The strategic partnership agreements involve closer co-operation on international emergency response, joint coast guard exercises and tackling illegal fishing in the North Pacific.
On trade, the two countries said in a release they would instruct officials to “identify immediate investment opportunities, including through pension funds” and exchange trade delegations.
They agreed to expand trade in energy projects, including liquefied natural gas, and to work closer on critical minerals to secure reliable supplies, among other measures.
They also announced a new cyber policy dialogue to address “growing threats in cyberspace.”
The two countries are planning additional “joint operations and training exercises, including joint sails between the Royal Canadian Navy and the Japanese Navy.” Japan could also participate in Canada’s Operation NANOOK, the release said.
Canadian Ambassador to Japan Ian McKay told reporters that Canada has had a very good relationship with Japan for decades, but it’s been “almost responsive to the issues of the day.”
He said that with the comprehensive strategic partnership, “this is now a relationship we need to double down on and accelerate everything we do.” He cited defence and security co-operation, supply chain resilience, increasing agricultural and energy exports and co-operation on critical minerals.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 6, 2026.
Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press
