Minister McGuinty signs an Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement with Japan
Press Release + Noah Note
January 27, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Today, the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, met with His Excellency Kanji Yamanouchi, the Japanese Ambassador to Canada, to sign a new agreement on defence and security, deepening the partnership between the two countries.
The Minister and Ambassador signed an Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement (ETTA) between Canada and Japan. This agreement will help Canadian and Japanese companies co-develop projects that require the transfer of equipment, technology, or Intellectual Property to Canada. Canadian and Japanese companies will now be able to work more closely together, build together and strengthen both countries defence industries and will also permit Japan to export defence equipment and technology to Canada, providing the Canadian Armed Forces with an additional source of supply.
During this meeting, the Minister and the Ambassador discussed defence materiel and defence industrial cooperation as an area of growth and one that supports shared strategic interests. They spoke about the desire to increase military collaboration between the Canadian Armed Forces and the Japanese Self Defense Forces. The Minister reiterated Canada’s support for greater collaboration between North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its Indo-Pacific partners - Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea.
As a Pacific nation, enhancing security and defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region is key to Canada’s interests. The signing of the ETTA is a significant step in the bilateral Canada-Japan defence relationship.
Quotes
“Strengthening our security and defence cooperation in the Indo‑Pacific region is essential, and it remains vital that we work together to address the challenges of the future. The signing of the ETTA marks an important advancement in the Canada–Japan defence partnership, reinforcing our shared commitment to stability and collaboration, and growing industries and jobs in both countries. As Canada makes generational, long‑term investments in the Canadian Armed Forces, agreements with trusted partners like Japan are more important than ever.”
The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
Quick facts
In July 2025, Canada and Japan signed a Security of Information Agreement. This agreement opens doors for greater industrial collaboration and creates opportunities in sectors like intelligence, space and cyber.
Japan’s Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreements (ETTA) are legally-binding frameworks negotiated bilaterally with foreign countries to permit Japanese-origin defence equipment and technology to be exported abroad. The ETTAs are a requirement under Japan’s Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology.
Japan has Equipment Technology Transfers Agreements in place with over a dozen countries, including all other G7 members.
Noah Note: For those of you who have been regulars the last few months you'll remember this agreement discussed back a while ago. This isn't a new agreement, but I am happy to finally see it signed after a few months of waiting. Agreements are important, and promoting Industry cooperation starts at making sure the legal and regulatory frameworks are in place to ensure research, production agreements, and technology transfer are firmly in place.
Now, obviously Japan is not the first such ally we tend to think about these things with. Japan has only recently eased their export restrictions for defence-related goods and has only recently started to really try to get out there to the world. That though does come with the requirement for such agreements.
This falls under Japan’s Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, which came into force in 2014. To this regard Canada is behind other allies in getting this signed, but better late than never.
This will ensure there is an avenue for future cooperation as Japan opens up her defence industrial sector is a great thing to have, and is a natural growth from the earlier GSOIA. I am happy to see it.
Lot of potential here, including opening certain doors…possibly GCAP