Can Canada be a ‘dependable partner’ for Asean in its search for trade stability?
Experts say Ottawa must ensure Asia becomes a natural extension of Canadian commercial engagement and seize opportunities in the region
But observers also warn that Canada’s trade diversification runs the risk of being merely “window dressing”, unless it can prove that it is in the region for the long haul.
“Canada is such a partner, a dependable partner, and I have come to Kuala Lumpur to say clearly that we want to play a bigger role in this region. Like Asean, Canada values the rules-based system. We respect trade agreements and the rule of law,” Carney said in a veiled reference to the United States.
His remarks were delivered against a backdrop of rising rhetoric and tariff threats by US President Donald Trump, who pledged to impose a further 10 per cent duty on Canadian goods.
This is in retaliation for Ontario government television ads that quoted former president Ronald Reagan’s criticism of tariffs.
