Joint Statement from Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Meloni
March 2, 2024
Toronto, Ontario
We, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and President of the Council of Ministers of Italy Giorgia Meloni, met today in Toronto, Ontario, to reaffirm the profound friendship and the shared values that bind Canada and Italy and to discuss our shared interests, including to deliver sustainable prosperity for our citizens in a complex global environment.
We believe in the need to build the resilience of countries to manage global challenges. Canada and Italy can work strategically towards this goal.
As trading nations, Canada and Italy understand the importance of an effective rules-based order, and the benefits that derive from predictable, transparent, and accessible business environments. We welcome our strong and growing economic partnership that generates sustainable economic growth, jobs, and innovation in both our countries.
Canada and Italy enjoy a strong trade and investment relationship, with economies that are complementary and that benefit from the strength of small and medium sized enterprises. Italy is Canada’s 2nd largest trading partner in the European Union, with two-way trade reaching a record high of $15.8 billion in 2023. We also acknowledge the benefits to our relationship that come from a community of 1.6 million Canadians of Italian descent, who actively contribute to each of our landscapes.
Today, we have agreed to further deepen our political, economic, and strategic ties and elevate our already excellent bilateral relationship by committing to establish the Canada-Italy Roadmap for Enhanced Cooperation. This Roadmap will set out ambitious, concrete plans to collaborate, over the next 3-5 years, in priority areas, including energy security and the shift to a sustainable energy future, climate change and biodiversity, migration, sustainable economic growth, and research and innovation, including on artificial intelligence.
Through closer ties and strategic alignment, th
