Foreign Affairs

QSA's Week in Foreign Affairs (#47, 2025)

Ottawa hosts G7 Interior and Security Ministers; Canada signs defence accord with Latvia; new tariffs on foreign steel and data on narrowing trade deficit; Parliament debates foreign agent registry and CUSMA renewal.

Good morning! This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news concerning Canadian foreign policy, diplomacy, international relations, trade agreements, sanctions, and global affairs. Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

• 🏛️ This Week's Parliamentary Calendar
• 🇨🇦 Canadian Federal Government News
• 🗺️ Canadian Provincial Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development reviews Supplementary Estimates B: Meeting No. 16, November 27, 15:30 ET: Committee discussed Supplementary Estimates B for 2025/26, including priorities in trade, Arctic strategy, Ukraine support, and international finance allocations.
Senate Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee discusses Canada’s trade and foreign policy priorities: Meeting No. 15, November 27, 10:30 ET: Minister Anita Anand, officials addressed trade diversification, NATO defence spending, Ukraine aid, multilateralism, and engagements with Asia and the EU.
House CIIT reviews trade diversification strategy and forced labor import ban enforcement: Meeting No. 16, November 27, 15:30 ET: Department of Foreign Affairs, CBSA, and Public Safety officials discussed import enforcement challenges, international cooperation gaps, and legislative approaches to forced labor in supply chains.
Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs evaluates foreign interference and registry implementation: Meeting No. 15, November 27, 11:00 ET: Members debated foreign influence registry timelines, AI-generated content risks for elections, and regulatory gaps in political transparency.
Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade debates CUSMA renewal and supply chain integration: Meeting No. 14, November 26, 16:15 ET: Witnesses from Business Council of Canada, Future Borders Coalition, and Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs discuss priorities for CUSMA modernization and reducing trade uncertainty.
House CIIT continues CUSMA review with sector stakeholders: Meeting No. 15, November 24, 15:30 ET: Stakeholders representing organic trade, steel construction, Canadian Labour Congress, and others discuss renewal of CUSMA, trade protection, and regulatory challenges.
Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs explores defence procurement and Arctic sovereignty: Meeting No. 7, November 24, 16:00 ET: Experts discuss strategic procurement, industrial bottlenecks, skills development, and local collaboration for Arctic sovereignty.
Industry Committee reviews defence industrial strategy and implications for Canadian space sector: Meeting No. 17, November 26, 16:30 ET: Witnesses outlined the need for domestic space capabilities, whole-of-nation defence innovation, and support for SMEs in defence and aerospace.

Canadian Federal Government News

Canada Hosts G7 Interior and Security Ministers to Advance Global Security

From November 21-23, Ottawa was the site of the G7 Interior and Security Ministers’ Meeting, bringing together delegates to address transnational crime, cyber threats, foreign interference, and the smuggling of migrants. The meeting resulted in a G7 Communiqué and the launch of a Resilience and Response Framework to counter transnational repression. Discussions produced joint commitments on securing maritime ports against drug and precursor chemical trafficking, and advanced action against extortion and online threats. Collectively, the G7 reaffirmed its intention to intensify efforts in cooperation, disruption of organized crime networks, and safeguarding sovereign states. Technology companies were called upon to develop voluntary principles to deter organized crime’s use of digital platforms, while a Digital TNR Detection Academy was announced to bolster capacity against digital repression threats. The Ministers’ gathering sets a foundation for collaborative operations on cyber, migration, and enforcement priorities.

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Canada Signs Bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement with Latvia

At the 17th Halifax International Security Forum, Minister David McGuinty signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement with Latvia's Andris Sprūds, moving beyond NATO's Multinational Brigade Latvia. The agreement will facilitate bilateral and multilateral training, military education, defence R&D, and logistics support. Canada also renewed its commitment to leading the NATO brigade in Latvia for three years. The forum featured meetings with representatives from Colombia, the U.S., Netherlands, Estonia, and the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, covering military relations, joint operations, supply chain resilience, and cybersecurity—especially through ongoing collaboration in the Baltic region and implementation of the June 2025 Canada-EU Security and Defence Partnership.

Canada Introduces Tariffs and Policy Changes for Domestic Steel Industry

Secretary of State Buckley Belanger outlined new federal measures effective January 31, 2026, to protect Canadian steel producers. Canada will lower tariff rate quota levels for steel products from non–FTA partners to 20% and to 75% for FTA partners, impose a 25% tariff on steel-derivative imports, end tariff remissions for certain steel uses, and create a dedicated steel compliance team within CBSA. Freight rates for domestic steel transport will be cut by 50%. The Buy Canadian Policy will require contracts above $25 million to use Canadian steel. More than $100 million over two years is earmarked to support workforce training in the sector and income replacement for up to 26,000 workers.

NATO’s CYBER COALITION 25 Exercise Includes Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command

The Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command (CAFCYBERCOM) is participating in NATO's Exercise CYBER COALITION 25, running from November 28 to December 6. The exercise tests cyber defence capabilities against simulated attacks targeting national infrastructure, government services, and military systems, reinforcing Canada’s support of NATO cyber standards and collective security. International collaboration through such exercises contributes to the strengthening of regional stability and preparedness against evolving malign cyber activity.

Canadian Support for Jamaica’s Hurricane Response and Long-Term Recovery

Following Hurricane Melissa’s impact, Canada has provided over $7 million in humanitarian aid to Jamaica, matching up to $1.5 million in individual donations. Secretary of State Randeep Sarai met leaders and toured affected communities, noting ongoing coordinated recovery and resilience projects. The Operational Support Hub in Kingston, staffed with 77 CAF members, is active in logistics and disaster support. Earlier this month, Canada committed an additional $6.1 million in development assistance for health repair and food system recovery.

Canada Announces Investments in Francophone Immigration Projects

Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced a $3.6 million investment in four new Francophone Immigration Support Program projects, targeting recruitment and integration of Francophone and bilingual candidates for minority communities outside Quebec. Budget 2025 sets admission targets for French-speaking permanent residents at 10.5% for 2028 and 12% in 2029. The initiatives respond to labour gaps in health care, education, and early childhood, with activities supporting overseas recruitment, promotion, and integration.

Government Showcases Partnership with Nokia to Boost 5G R&D

Minister Evan Solomon, joined by Maninder Sidhu and other parliamentary officials, participated in Nokia’s groundbreaking Ottawa facility expansion, supported by a $40 million federal contribution. The project is expected to create over 340 jobs and strengthen Canada’s advanced networking capabilities, leveraging AI and machine learning to advance 5G infrastructure. Industrial applications cited include defence, clean energy, and telecommunications, projecting a $200 billion economic boost by 2040.

Minister Joly Visits Korea and Japan to Advance Strategic Industrial Partnerships

Minister Mélanie Joly embarked on a visit to Seoul, Busan, and Tokyo from November 23-28 to promote Canada’s industrial interests, including automotive, batteries, defence, shipbuilding, aerospace, biomanufacturing, and mining sectors. The engagement with senior officials and industry leaders aims to deepen bilateral economic ties, attract investments, and expand Canada’s footprint in Asian markets, especially in defence cooperation.

Minister Sidhu Highlights Canada’s Commitment to Steel Industry

Minister Maninder Sidhu announced participation in an event regarding Canada’s ongoing support for the steel industry, which includes a media availability. The government continues to signal policy attention to steel sector resilience and competitive positioning, amid evolving global trade measures.

Canada Advances Trade Negotiations with Costa Rica

Minister Maninder Sidhu held talks with Costa Rica’s Foreign Trade Minister Manuel Tovar, marking progress on Costa Rica’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The ministers noted trade growth surpassing $1 billion in 2024 and affirmed Canada’s interest in strengthening bilateral commerce and deeper engagement on trade policy.

Monthly Macroeconomic Data Shows Strengthening Trade Balance and Reduced Deficit

Statistics Canada reported that Canada’s current account deficit narrowed by $11.9 billion to $9.7 billion in Q3 2025. Real GDP grew by 0.6% in the third quarter, reversing a 0.5% decline in Q2, with the improvement attributed to a robust trade balance as imports dropped and exports edged higher. The quarterly macroeconomic accounts incorporate international merchandise trade data, with full GDP by expenditure statistics released November 28.

Canadian Provincial Government News

British Columbia Appoints Parliamentary Secretary for Armed Forces Development

Premier David Eby named Darlene Rotchford as parliamentary secretary for armed forces development and veterans affairs, focusing on defence, aerospace, shipbuilding, and skills alignment with federal priorities.