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April 24, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, spoke with Pablo Quirno Magrane, Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship.
Minister Sidhu reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to advancing negotiations toward a free trade agreement (FTA) between Canada and Mercosur, which is a trading bloc and customs union consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The Minister highlighted the potential of an FTA to drive economic growth, create jobs and deliver benefits for Canada and Argentina, as well as the other Mercosur countries. The ministers agreed to stay closely engaged as negotiations progress.
Canada and Argentina have built a solid foundation of two-way trade. Argentina is Canada’s fifth-largest trading partner in South America, and the two countries reached $2.8 billion in merchandise trade in 2025, an increase of 8.9% from 2024. The ministers agreed that the existing solid Canada-Argentina foundation can be optimized through a new FTA with Mercosur.
The ministers also discussed opportunities for further cooperation between Canada and Argentina in key sectors, including critical minerals, energy and defence. They also acknowledged the growing importance of Canadian investment in Argentina.
