- Canada and Germany have signed a joint declaration of intent to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on shared priorities in the semiconductor sector
- The declaration was signed on the margins of the IEA Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency by senior officials from both countries
- The partnership builds on a growing bilateral framework that includes the Canada-Germany Digital Alliance and a February 2026 joint declaration on AI cooperation
Canada and Germany have formalized a new commitment to work together on semiconductors, signing a joint declaration of intent that lays the groundwork for closer coordination on a technology both governments regard as critical to economic security and digital competitiveness.
What Did the Two Countries Sign & Who Signed It?
The joint declaration was signed on the margins of the IEA Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency by Carlos Leitão, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Minister of Industry, and Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The agreement establishes a framework for policy dialogue and enhanced cooperation on investment, industrial development, technology and research in the semiconductor sector.
What Are the Goals of the Declaration?
The declaration commits both countries to deepening collaboration to advance innovation and strengthen competitiveness, including support for start-ups, scale-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises. Canada sees it as aligned with its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, while for Germany, it reinforces efforts to shore up supply chain resilience following years of global chip disruptions.
What Did the Key Officials Say?
Canada’s Minister of Industry, Mélanie Joly, described semiconductors as central to the country’s economic security.
“Semiconductors are a critical technology for Canada’s economic security, resilience and growth. Together, we will build more resilient supply chains, advance emerging technologies and create new opportunities for businesses and workers in both countries,” Joly said.
Rouenhoff highlighted the strategic necessity of the partnership from Germany’s vantage point.
“Today is a good day for Germany and Canada. We have just laid the foundation for closer cooperation in the semiconductor sector. This makes it all the more important for Germany to strengthen its cooperation with its long-standing and trusted partner Canada in this key economic sector,” Rouenhoff said.
How Does This Fit Into the Broader Canada-Germany Partnership?
The semiconductor declaration is the latest in a series of bilateral agreements between the two countries. In February 2026, Ministers Evan Solomon and Karsten Wildberger signed the Joint Declaration of Intent on Artificial Intelligence at the Munich Security Conference and launched the Sovereign Technology Alliance, focused on reducing strategic technology dependencies across compute infrastructure, AI research and talent development. That same month, Minister Joly and German Minister Katherina Reiche signed a separate declaration on automotive and battery manufacturing cooperation, covering electric vehicles, hydrogen mobility and critical minerals. Germany remains Canada’s largest EU trading partner, with both countries leveraging the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement to expand digital and industrial trade.
