Indeed, the joint economic commission will put us on a more level playing field with other foreign countries active in the Philippine market. It will meet every two years intersessionally with the joint overall foreign policy consultations that we have every two years with the Philippines.
One reason we wanted to establish this was to add impetus to the free trade agreement negotiation, which is just beginning, and, importantly, to ensure that the voices of business—both the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and other chambers of commerce, business organizations, including the agri-food sector, for example—have a chance to integrate themselves with government officials in order that we can look at greater opportunities between the two governments in trade and, increasingly, in investment. Through investment, you can trade more.
We are looking forward to the first meeting of the joint economic commission this fall. That is something that the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines and Global Affairs Canada, on the trade side, are keen to pursue.