Vietnam deepens trade partnerships with Canada and Western Australia

Vietnam and Canada co‑chaired the third meeting of their Joint Economic Committee in Ottawa on June 5, where Deputy Ministers Phan Thi Thang and Arun Thangaraj highlighted two‑way trade approaching US$8.6 billion for 2025. Exports to Canada rose 18.2% to US$7.5 billion, while Canadian exports to Vietnam jumped 24% and surged 62% in the first four months of the year. The parties adopted a 2026‑2028 Action Plan focusing on diversifying trade, critical minerals, high‑tech innovation, clean energy and infrastructure, and agreed to hold the next meeting in Vietnam in 2028.

In parallel, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Western Australian office, led by Pamela Currie, is strengthening economic and educational links with Vietnam. The partnership centres on supplying iron ore, lithium and other critical minerals from Western Australia to support Vietnam’s industrial growth and net‑zero goals, while Vietnamese students continue to enrol in Western Australian universities, fostering long‑term professional networks. Upcoming regional trade summit discussions will address renewable energy and hydrogen collaboration, underscoring the growing strategic importance of the Vietnam‑Western Australia corridor.