May 7, 2026
Ottawa, Ontario - The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, will welcome Germany's Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil, to Canada on May 8-9. This visit will be an opportunity to further strengthen Canada's bilateral economic partnership with Germany and advance collaboration on shared priorities.
Germany is Canada's largest trading partner in the European Union and one of its most important global economic partners. Bilateral trade exceeds $30billion annually, with particularly strong ties in advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, clean technologies, and defencerelated supply chains. In the last year, Canada has strengthened bilateral ties with Germany, including a Joint Declaration of Intent to deepen cooperation on critical minerals, supporting secure supply chains, joint research and development, and investment in strategic projects. Minister Champagne also travelled to Germany last December where he met with Vice-Chancellor Klingbeil.
This visit also builds on a new era in the Canada-Europe partnership. Over the past year, Canada and the EU announced the New EU-Canada Strategic Partnership of the Future, as well as the Security and Defence Partnership, to deepen cooperation across trade, technology, energy, and security. Canada and the EU also launched a new industrial policy dialogue focused on security, resilience, and clean growth.
Canada and Germany's ongoing collaboration underscores the shared commitment to deepening economic cooperation and strengthening resilient, trusted partnerships amid global uncertainty.
Date: Friday, May 8, 2026 (all times are local)
11:10 a.m.
Minister Champagne and Minister Klingbeil will visit a Bombardier worksite and hold a joint press conference.
Before the press conference, media are invited to take part in a guided tour of the facilities. A photo and video opportunity with the Ministers will directly follow the tour.
Notes for the media:
- For security reasons, all interested media representatives must register by end of day, May 7. Please provide names and place of work upon registration. Please register by contacting [email protected].
- The tour begins at 8:40 a.m. We ask that media arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. Photo and video are allowed while on the tour.
- The press conference begins at 11:10 a.m. We ask that media arrive no later than 10:40 a.m.
- Simultaneous translation will be offered during the press conference.
- More information will be provided upon registration.
1:30 p.m.
Minister Champagne and Minister Klingbeil will hold a roundtable hosted by CIBC with the German-Canadian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and senior leaders from the financial services, critical minerals, and future-facing technologies sector. Discussions will focus on current industry challenges, strategic investments to build the economy of the future, and opportunities to strengthen strategic partnerships between Canadian and German businesses.
Notes for the media:
- Photo and video opportunity at the start of the roundtable. Photo opportunity (family photo) at the close of the roundtable.
- Media are asked to arrive no later than 1:15 p.m.
- Registration is mandatory, please register by contacting [email protected].
- More information will be provided upon registration.
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
11:00 a.m.
Minister Champagne, accompanied by Minister Klingbeil, will participate in a Canada 2020 panel and deliver a speech focusing on Canada on the world stage, trade diversification, and economic growth and productivity.
