Canada’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region will be enhanced as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits Indonesia this week. During his visit, Mr. Trudeau held bilateral talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who is also the current chair of ASEAN. The strategic partnership between Canada and ASEAN will be launched during the bloc’s summit in the coming days. In addition to Indonesia, Prime Minister Trudeau will also visit Singapore and attend the G20 summit in New Delhi.
International Trade Minister Mary Ng stated in Indonesia that ASEAN is strengthening ties with Canada in response to Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. She noted a changing sentiment towards Canada in the region and described a growing momentum. Minister Ng mentioned her previous visit to Indonesia to meet with a bilateral economic task force and the upcoming opening of an Agri-Food office in the Philippines. The Prime Minister also announced the opening of an Export Development Canada office in Jakarta. These initiatives have contributed to Canada’s elevation to strategic partner status in the region.
Minister Ng’s remarks were made alongside Canada’s Ambassador to Japan, Ian McKay, who was appointed as special envoy for the Indo-Pacific in April 2022. Ambassador McKay highlighted Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy as the country’s most significant foreign policy shift in decades. The strategy focuses on security, trade, and the environment, while also recognizing China as a strategic challenge.
The increased engagement of Canada in the Indo-Pacific will enable the country to have a more sophisticated bilateral relationship with China, according to Ambassador McKay. He emphasized that Canada’s presence in the region across various fronts will enhance its capacity to engage with its bilateral partners.
Part of Canada’s focus on Asia involves pursuing a trade deal with ASEAN, a bloc consisting of 10 countries with a combined population of nearly 700 million. Trade between Canada and ASEAN countries has shown significant growth in recent years. However, negotiations for a trade agreement have been complex and time-consuming. Minister Ng acknowledged that some ASEAN member countries are also part of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which is a high-standard trade agreement. The negotiations are ongoing, and Canada will continue working with ASEAN countries to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
Trade negotiations with India, another major player in the region, have faced challenges, leading the Canadian government to pause talks for now. The reasons behind this decision were not explained by Minister Ng, who emphasized the complexity of trade agreements. The Canadian government is currently assessing the situation and taking stock of their progress.