Canada Strengthens Trade and Defence Ties with Italy During Ministerial Mission

The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Canada's Minister of International Trade, recently concluded a successful trade mission to Italy, leading a delegation of over 75 Canadian businesses and stakeholders from October 12 to October 17, 2025. The mission, spanning Rome and Milan, aimed to explore new commercial opportunities, deepen existing trade ties, and advance strategic cooperation between the two nations.

Key Objectives and High-Level Engagements

The Canadian delegation's primary objectives included encouraging Italy's ratification of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and strengthening collaboration in the defence and security sectors. During his visit to Rome, Minister Sidhu met with Antonio Tajani, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Their discussions underscored the importance of fostering stronger commercial ties and driving economic growth. Minister Tajani, in turn, committed to leading an Italian trade delegation to Canada in the near future.

Focus on Strategic Sectors and Bilateral Cooperation

The mission highlighted Canada's commitment to diversifying trade and fostering strategic partnerships, particularly in high-growth sectors. The program targeted several key areas:

• Defence and security (including cybersecurity)
• Aerospace
• Infrastructure
• Clean technologies
• Energy

In Rome, Minister Sidhu hosted a roundtable discussion with global leaders to strengthen Canada-Italy industrial cooperation and identify investment opportunities within the defence and security sector. The two countries, as NATO allies, are already collaborating on global security initiatives, including the Forward Land Forces (FLF) Battle Group in Latvia and the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE) in Montreal.

Commercial Engagements and New Agreements

In Milan, Minister Sidhu engaged with key government and business stakeholders, and visited prominent companies such as Tenaris, a significant player in Canada's steel industry, and Stantec, an Edmonton-headquartered global leader in sustainable engineering. The mission also saw the signing of three important agreements, further solidifying bilateral cooperation:

• A Memorandum of Understanding between the Canadian Hydrogen Association and the Italian Hydrogen Association to establish a collaborative platform.
• An agreement between DataPeak and Bonetto Group, enabling Bonetto to utilize DataPeak's artificial intelligence technology for manufacturing process improvements.

Economic Context and CETA's Role

Canada and Italy share robust commercial ties, with two-way merchandise trade increasing by 73% since 2016. In 2024, the total goods and services trade between the two nations reached Can$15.9 billion. CETA, provisionally applied since September 21, 2017, serves as a crucial framework for this trade relationship. Italy views Canada as a strategic partner for diversifying its exports and mitigating the impact of potential tariffs, underscoring the importance of CETA's full ratification. This mission aligns with the broader Italy-Canada Roadmap for Enhanced Collaboration and the Canada-Italy Leaders' Joint Statement from the 2025 G7 Summit, which emphasized energy security, digital transformation, and future-focused partnerships.