Indo-Pacific Key to Canada's Trade Diversification Strategy: Maninder Sidhu

Canada's International Trade Minister, Maninder Sidhu, says the Indo-Pacific region is critical to the country's efforts to increase exports beyond the United States and diversify its trade markets.

Sidhu recently led a 300-member business delegation on a four-day visit to Japan, marking Canada's largest-ever trade mission to the Indo-Pacific region.

The Indo-Pacific is home to Canada's three largest trading partners in the region-China, Japan and South Korea. However, Canada's efforts to expand trade and investment ties there have not always achieved the desired results.

Sidhu noted that previous federal governments typically completed one or two trade agreements per year, but the current government has finalized several agreements within just the past 12 months.

The minister also announced that he will lead a trade mission to India later this year as Ottawa continues working to improve relations with another major Asian economic powerhouse and strengthen economic ties between the two countries.