PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(OTTAWA – September 24, 2026) The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) has submitted recommendations to Global Affairs Canada calling for strong safeguards to ensure that any future Canada–Turkey Free Trade Agreement (FTA) does not weaken Canada’s export-control regime, national-security authorities, human-rights commitments, or ability to respond to the misuse or diversion of Canadian technology.
The Government of Canada conducted public consultations on a potential Canada–Turkey FTA from July 31 to September 14, 2026, seeking input from Canadians and civil society on priorities for future negotiations.
The ANCC’s submission recognizes the potential economic value of deeper commercial relations between Canada and Turkey. However, it stresses that economic integration must not constrain Canada’s ability to protect national security, uphold international obligations, prevent the misuse of Canadian technology, or respond to human-rights and regional security concerns.
Canada’s previous experience with military technology exported to Turkey demonstrates the importance of maintaining these safeguards. In 2021, the Government of Canada cancelled 29 export permits to Turkey after a review found credible evidence that Canadian technology had been used in regional conflicts, including Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Libya, and Syria, in ways inconsistent with Canadian foreign policy and the end-use assurances provided by Turkey.
The ANCC is particularly concerned that Canadian-origin military and sensitive dual-use technology could be transferred, incorporated into larger systems, or re-exported to third countries. Its submission therefore calls for Canada to retain full authority to assess, approve, deny, suspend, amend, or cancel export and brokering permits, including where credible risks of diversion or misuse arise.
“Canada has already experienced the consequences of inadequate end-use assurances involving sensitive Canadian technology,” said Lorig Korajian, Communications Director of the Armenian National Committee of Canada. “As Canada considers deeper economic relations with Turkey, it is essential that any future trade agreement preserve Canada’s ability to protect national security, uphold human rights, and prevent Canadian technology from contributing to conflict or serious violations of international law. Economic engagement and responsible foreign policy must go hand in hand.”
The ANCC is calling on the Government of Canada to ensure that military goods and sensitive dual-use technology do not receive automatic preferential treatment under a future FTA and remain subject to Canada’s export-control legislation, permit requirements, risk assessments, and foreign-policy considerations.
The organization is also urging Canada to preserve strong end-use and end-user requirements, including identification of ultimate end-users and intended uses, safeguards against unauthorized transfer and re-export, appropriate documentation and traceability, and the ability to take prompt action when credible evidence of diversion or misuse emerges.
The ANCC further calls for a strong national-security and export-control exception that would protect Canada’s ability to adopt and enforce measures necessary to protect national security, international peace and security, human rights, and international humanitarian law. The organization also urges Canada to ensure that a future agreement does not restrict its ability to strengthen export controls as technologies, security conditions, and international obligations evolve.
Beyond export controls, the ANCC’s submission calls for meaningful provisions addressing human rights, responsible business conduct, transparency, good governance, and the rule of law. It also urges the Government of Canada to ensure that increased economic engagement with Turkey does not affect Canada’s established position on recognition of the Armenian Genocide or diminish Canada’s willingness to address humanitarian and human-rights concerns in the South Caucasus.
The ANCC also emphasizes the importance of meaningful consultation with affected Canadian communities, including Armenian Canadians and civil-society organizations with relevant expertise. The organization argues that the implications of closer Canada–Turkey relations extend beyond commercial interests to questions of human rights, regional security, cultural heritage, and Canada’s international obligations.
The Armenian National Committee of Canada calls upon the Government of Canada to:
- Preserve Canada’s full authority over export and brokering permits for military and sensitive dual-use goods and technology.
- Ensure that trade preferences do not override Canada’s export-control legislation or permit requirements.
- Maintain robust end-use, end-user, re-export, and diversion controls for sensitive Canadian-origin technology.
- Preserve Canada’s ability to respond to the transfer of Canadian technology to third countries, including where such transfers raise legal, security, or foreign-policy concerns.
- Include strong national-security and export-control exceptions that cannot be undermined through dispute settlement.
- Ensure that future trade commitments do not restrict Canada from strengthening export controls in response to emerging risks.
- Maintain meaningful commitments to human rights, international humanitarian law, responsible business conduct, transparency, and the rule of law.
- Continue meaningful engagement with affected Canadian communities and civil-society organizations throughout the negotiation and implementation of any future agreement.
Canada and Turkey are currently listed by Global Affairs Canada as negotiating a Free Trade Agreement. The ANCC will continue to monitor the negotiations and advocate for a trade relationship that protects Canada’s ability to uphold its national-security, human-rights, and international-law obligations.
To read the full submission, please click on this link.
Contact:
Lorig Korajian
Communications Director
Armenian National Committee of Canada
[email protected]
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The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) is Canada’s largest Armenian-Canadian grassroots advocacy organization. Working in coordination with a network of chapters, supporters, and affiliated organizations across Canada and internationally, the ANCC advances the interests of the Armenian Canadian community, promotes human rights, and advocates for justice, accountability, and the protection of international law.
