Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau adopted a more intimate form of diplomacy in the Pacific region on Thursday, speaking with several world leaders on the sidelines of a large international summit in California.
Even before the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathered for their traditional family photo, Mr. Trudeau had already organized meetings with Japan, Thailand and Australia, and planned to meet with Mexico and Vietnam in the afternoon.
Each meeting covered familiar themes: shared concerns about the war between Israel and Hamas and the fate of hostages held by Hamas, the impact of the war in Ukraine on global food supplies, and the ever-present perils of impact of climate change.
The other common element was a mutual interest in expanding opportunities for international trade and economic growth throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
“Canada has a long and strong friendship with Japan, but I must say that I don’t think bilateral relations have ever been better or closer than last year,” Trudeau told the prime minister. Japanese, Fumio Kishida, through an interpreter.
“Whether it’s energy security, investing in a growing clean economy, or fighting climate change and protecting nature, Canada and Japan have worked side by side on all of these issues and I I’m really looking forward to doing more. »
Meeting between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping
As these bilateral meetings were taking place, US President Joe Biden was telling fellow executives and business presidents that the United States was fully committed to the idea of expanding trade in the Pacific region.
“The questions we need to answer today are not about how much we trade, but about how we can build resilience, help workers, reduce carbon emissions and prepare our economies to succeed in the future. the long term. »
As leader of the host country, Mr. Biden then took center stage for the traditional photo opportunity, during which Mr. Trudeau stood alongside the summit’s biggest celebrity: Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Mr Biden met Mr Xi on the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday, aiming to ease tensions in one of the world’s most important geopolitical relationships.
“We have real differences with Beijing when it comes to maintaining a fair and level economic playing field and protecting your intellectual property,” the US president said.
He also insisted that the United States is committed to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a nascent trade deal that has not progressed as quickly or as effectively as the White House hoped.
Canada would welcome the chance to join the U.S.-led trade initiative, but the work needed to increase trade in the region is already well underway, International Trade Minister Mary said Wednesday. Ng.
That’s probably just as well: Trade deals aren’t politically popular in the United States right now, and Congress is timid ahead of crucial elections next year.
Canada is already an enthusiastic partner in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a salvaged version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership that former U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned in 2017, noted Mr.me Ng.
“We have commercial relationships and trade with many of these economies, including the United States,” she said.
“We are therefore happy to have the opportunity to join [l’IPEF] When the time comes. But frankly, we’re already doing the work. »