National

Trudeau to visit Indonesia, Singapore and India next week as Canada seeks trade deals

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Aug, 2023 10:57 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headed to Asia next week for a whirlwind tour of Indonesia, Singapore and India.

The trip involves the G20 leaders' summit in New Delhi, and a focus on economic ties in booming regions of Southeast Asia, as Canada seeks alternatives to a rising China.

In Jakarta, Trudeau will attend a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, where the group of 10 countries that will ratify a strategic-partnership agreement with Canada.

The next stop in Singapore will involve meeting with the city-state's head of government and business leaders to promote investment in Canada and Canadian exports.

Trudeau will then attend the G20 summit where he plans to focus on collaboration on climate change, reforming international finance for poorer states and energy security.

A news release suggests Trudeau is slated to spend just two days in each country, with a focus on boosting trade and affordability.

Ottawa is in negotiations for separate trade agreements with India, Indonesia and also ASEAN as a bloc.

At the G20, the Liberals say Trudeau will advocate for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine, yet many members of the Group of 20 have opted against criticizing Moscow.

"Working collaboratively to tackle global crises while holding Russia accountable is essential to maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the G20," a Wednesday news release from Trudeau's office says.

The summit's host, India, has been reluctant to discuss the issue in other G20 events this year, and declined request from countries like Canada to have Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attend the summit.

The Liberals are framing the trip around their Indo-Pacific strategy, which they released in November 2022 with the goal of seeking closer economic and defence ties with countries other than China.

Trade Minister Mary Ng is set to accompany Trudeau on the Indonesia and Singapore legs of his trip, but not in India.

That’s a wrap on the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers Meeting in India!

Gatherings like these are an opportunity for us to take stock of our shared priorities and address the challenges facing trade today. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/WWgoZtEDd0
— Mary Ng (@mary_ng) August 27, 2023

While here, I also met with business leaders at the Business 20 (B20) in Delhi. From clean tech innovators, to manufacturers, to chambers of commerce, to investment experts and many more, these businesses bring our trade agreements to life. (3/4) pic.twitter.com/2AHC27XiI6
— Mary Ng (@mary_ng) August 27, 2023

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Housing crisis deemed a political threat for Liberals

Experts say the national housing crisis is becoming a political threat for the Liberal government, with voters likely to look elsewhere if drastic action isn't taken soon. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came under heat recently for saying the federal government wasn't primarily responsible for housing, though it can and will help with the crisis.

Housing crisis deemed a political threat for Liberals

Border officers at Edmonton airport find tarantulas in plastic container, toy plane

The Canada Border Services Agency says officers discovered two live tarantulas hidden inside plastic containers at the Edmonton International Airport earlier this year. In May, officers saw irregularities in a small package from Hong Kong and found a male tarantula hidden inside a plastic container.

Border officers at Edmonton airport find tarantulas in plastic container, toy plane

Man shot in the face over the weekend

The victim was at a bus stop when he had bumped into an unknown man on a bike. There was an exchange between the two, and the suspect then shot at the victim, hitting him in the face. Thankfully, the victim was immediately transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Man shot in the face over the weekend

Kelowna RCMP locate stolen car, arrest repeat offender

Mounties in British Columbia say a man they describe as a "dangerous repeat offender" has been arrested in Kelowna. Police then waited until the 32-year-old man and a woman entered the vehicle and drove it to a business where they were arrested.

Kelowna RCMP locate stolen car, arrest repeat offender

Heat wave spreads from B.C.'s south coast to southern, central Interior

Environment Canada says temperatures in several areas, from the Boundary and Okanagan to parts of the North Thompson and Kootenay were expected to see highs of 39 C though the day.

Heat wave spreads from B.C.'s south coast to southern, central Interior

Firefighter training under scrutiny as 'marathon' wildfire season gives hard lessons

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said while the curriculum for firefighter training remains primarily a provincial responsibility, all levels of government and firefighting jurisdictions need to look deeper into "greater interoperability" of crews regardless of where they are based.