Prime Minister Carney embarks on first Asia trip to strengthen trade and regional ties

Prime Minister Mark Carney is departing today on his first official visit to Asia since taking office, launching a nine-day trip aimed at deepening Canada’s economic and diplomatic relationships across the Indo-Pacific. The visit includes stops at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in South Korea.

The trip comes amid renewed geopolitical tension in the region, with countries balancing ties between the United States and China. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend both summits, drawing significant attention from global leaders.

Carney’s visit follows a sharp statement from Trump on social media Thursday, announcing the suspension of U.S.-Canada trade negotiations. The post appeared to reference an Ontario government advertising campaign opposing American tariffs, which featured a 1987 speech by former president Ronald Reagan. The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet responded publicly to Trump’s remarks.

Speaking with reporters earlier this week, Carney said his focus remains on broadening Canada’s global trade reach. “We’ll be seeing the president at APEC, but we’re also meeting with many other countries,” he said. “Diversifying trade remains one of our key priorities.”

In a speech in Ottawa on Wednesday, Carney outlined an ambitious target to double Canada’s exports to non-U.S. markets over the next decade. Canada has been expanding its Indo-Pacific engagement since the federal government unveiled its regional strategy in 2022, positioning trade diversification as a central pillar of its economic policy.