Canada, Indonesia agree to trade deal as APEC summit heads to Trump – National
Ottawa has completed negotiations for a trade deal with Indonesia and is proposing nuclear energy cooperation with Southeast Asian leaders.
These steps show faith in international cooperation as the re-election of Donald Trump in the United States raises fears that there may be difficulties in global cooperation on trade and the environment.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima on Friday, announcing the end of trade talks that should lead to Canada signing a new deal with the world’s fourth largest country. most populous country next year.
It comes as Trump’s imminent return to the White House is largely due to talks by the APEC group, which aims to boost trade between Pacific Rim countries.
Trump’s first presidency saw him withdraw from many international agreements, including the Paris climate agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, where part of the APEC countries are members.
In this case, he promised to impose at least a 10 percent import tax on all goods entering the United States, which is causing great concern among America’s trade partners and has been a topic of frequent discussion at all times. the top.
“APEC is meeting in a context of rising protectionism, intense political competition, uncertain economic growth and the election of Trump,” said Vina Nadjibulla, vice president of research at the Asia Pacific Foundation.
He said Trudeau has always wanted to maintain rules-based trade that is “critical to our prosperity,” especially among like-minded countries.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters in Lima on Friday that Trump’s return actually increases Canada’s influence in the world.
“If there is a country in the world that understands the United States, it is Canada,” he said. “That’s why there are so many delegates, so many countries, who will see us and ask us how we can adapt.”
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Joly did not specify which countries or delegations reached out to Canada for advice. The Canadian Press contacted the minister’s office for more information.
Joly also confirmed that she expects Trump to visit Canada next year when the G7 summit is held in Kananaskis, Alta.
However, he is still pushing to get things done before Trump takes office. He met Thursday night in Lima with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, where both discussed trying to get the new Columbia River Treaty off the ground before the current administration leaves.
The agreement governs how the two countries manage and share resources along the Columbia River. The Trump campaign’s comments about turning to Canada to solve the American West’s water problems have raised concerns about how he might address the issue.
John Kirton, head of the G20 Research Group, said he expects Trudeau and other leaders to hold informal talks on the sidelines of both summits to brainstorm how to navigate another Trump presidency.
“Trudeau will be in a special position, because he has been with Donald Trump in (several) conferences, and we are neighbors; we are a leading country,” he said.
Nadjibulla said Trump’s re-election could mean a reduction in the US’s role in international institutions and the fight against climate change, as well as greater tensions with China over trade, tariffs and technology.
Trudeau and Canada did not have a smooth relationship with the first Trump administration, although the two concluded a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Liberal government is relying on its past experience of dealing with Trump to guide its efforts to maintain a strong relationship now, emphasizing critical trade ties across the border, continental security and working to reduce China’s dominance in clean technology and electric vehicles.
Canada has also been pursuing efforts to end China’s influence in Asia with a new Indo-Pacific strategy announced in 2022.
In announcing the end of trade talks with Trudeau on Friday, President Subianto praised Canada for being a partner in everything from sustainable fishing to artificial intelligence. The agreement should promote digital trade and renewable energy, he said.
Indonesia has a growing economy, fueled by 280 million people including a large proportion of young people. The country has been trying to wean itself off high carbon pollution as it faces threatened biodiversity.
Trudeau told business leaders that Canada is looking to work with nuclear power in Southeast Asia, especially as countries in the region raise concerns about the large amount of energy needed to power artificial intelligence.
At the APEC CEO meeting on Friday afternoon, he said that developing the nuclear industry is about economic planning for the next 25 years.
“You can’t talk about AI without talking about the power required to produce it,” he said.
Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy did not specifically address the nuclear sector when the Liberals released it two years ago.
But now, Trudeau said Canada will use its “trade gateway” program to not only connect businesses but also help increase local knowledge of nuclear technology, such as how to create a viable market for nuclear goods and properly train workers.
Ottawa will also “identify opportunities for Canada’s broader nuclear industry to provide products and services to support Canadian and regional objectives,” Trudeau’s office wrote in a statement.
Trade Minister Mary Ng said the idea came about when peer countries said they had energy needs in areas such as AI, quantum computing and data centers. “Nuclear came from that context, and then we connected the dots,” he told reporters.
Joly also met with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, on Thursday, discussing Canada and China’s cooperation in aviation and the fight against fentanyl. He said he also discussed Canada’s public inquiry into foreign interference and sent “clear messages to China that we will never accept foreign interference.”
Canadian officials have been mum on the prospect of a meeting between Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping, whether it’s a formal sit-down or an informal meeting, either in Lima at APEC or over the weekend when both attend the G20 summit. Brazil.
