Canadian prime minister looks for trade deals in Indo-Pacific region

​​​​​​​TRENTON, Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is in the midst of a dizzying nine-day trip in the Indo-Pacific region, knocking on doors hoping to open new and shore up old trade and investment agreements.

On the agenda beginning Tuesday, he attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia, where he met government and business leaders.

It was announced that Canada is “accelerating” negotiations for a Canada-ASEAN free-trade agreement with signatures expected in 2026. That would add CAN$1.5 billion ($1.7 million) to the Canadian economy.

Carney then set off to Singapore, where he was to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and more meetings with heads of businesses and governments, including South Korea.

He said the goal was to strengthen and create new trade deals and to lessen the heavy trade dependence on the US and its mercurial President Donald Trump.

“To that end, Canada’s new government is focused on transforming our economy from one that is reliant on a single trade partner to one that is stronger and more resilient to global shocks,” according to Carney’s website. “That is why the Prime Minister recently announced that Canada is embarking on an ambitious new mission to double our non-US exports in the next decade.”

In Malaysia, the two countries agreed to deepen a previously signed Letter of Intent in liquified natural gas, oil, nuclear and renewable energy, according to the website.

In the Philippines, Canada and the Philippines signaled their intent to “launch negotiations on a new free-trade agreement,” said the website.

The Indo-Pacific region is Canada’s second-largest trading partner.