Carney Attends ASEAN Summit: Canada Seeks Trade Deal 2026
Canada and ASEAN Aim for 2026 Free Trade Agreement
Updated September 26,2023,3:29 AM PDT
Progress Towards Economic Partnership
canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to attend the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) summit in October,signaling Canada’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with the region. This engagement comes as both Canada and ASEAN are working towards finalizing a extensive free trade agreement by the end of 2026.
The agreement to finalize negotiations by 2026 was announced on Friday by Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, Zafrul Aziz. This timeline reflects a concerted effort to deepen economic cooperation between canada and the ASEAN member states.
Expanding Trade and Investment Opportunities
Canada’s Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, Yasir Naqvi, highlighted the potential for increased business and investment initiatives during the ASEAN economic ministers’ meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Naqvi emphasized that these initiatives are expected to contribute significantly to economic growth for both Canada and the ASEAN region.
A free trade agreement with ASEAN represents a strategic chance for Canada to diversify its trade relationships and access rapidly growing markets in Southeast Asia.The ASEAN region, comprised of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, collectively forms a significant economic bloc.