Prime Minister Justin Trudeau embraced a more intimate form of Pacific Rim diplomacy Thursday as he sat down with several world leaders on the margins of a sprawling international summit in California.
Even before all 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group could gather for their traditional family photo, Trudeau had already hosted meetings with Japan, Thailand and Australia, with plans to meet Mexico and Vietnam in the afternoon.
Each meeting touched on familiar themes: shared concern about the Israel-Gaza war and the fate of hostages held by Hamas, the effect of the war in Ukraine on global food supplies and the ever-present perils of the 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.
害羞草研究所淐anada has a long and deep friendship with Japan, but I have to say I don害羞草研究所檛 think it has ever been better or closer bilaterally than it has been this past year,害羞草研究所� Trudeau told Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida through an interpreter.
害羞草研究所淲hether it害羞草研究所檚 been an issue of energy security, of investments in the growing clean economy or fighting climate change and protecting nature, Canada and Japan have been working side by side on all these issues and I really look forward to doing even more.害羞草研究所�
In an ever more turbulent world, Canada must be focused both on its own national self-interests as well as the broader discussion about the world害羞草研究所檚 looming crises, said Kirsten Hillman, Canada害羞草研究所檚 ambassador to the U.S.
害羞草研究所淚 think you always do both, and I think they害羞草研究所檙e different endeavours,害羞草研究所� Hillman said. Strong country-to-country relationships are important, particularly when there are bilateral issues to resolve, she added.
害羞草研究所淏ut with many of the challenges that we害羞草研究所檙e facing in the world, it害羞草研究所檚 also important to group together as countries when you have a point to make, when you have something that you want to convey or stand up for or make sure that the world understands that there害羞草研究所檚 a group of countries that share a similar view.害羞草研究所�
While Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 bilateral meetings were playing out, host President Joe Biden was telling his fellow leaders and corporate CEOs that the U.S. was fully committed to the idea of expanding Pacific Rim trade.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not going anywhere,害羞草研究所� Biden said.
害羞草研究所淭he questions we must answer today are not about how much we trade, but about how we build resilience, lift up working people, reduce carbon emissions and set up our economies to succeed over the long run.害羞草研究所�
As leader of the host nation, Biden later took centre stage for the traditional photo-op, which saw Trudeau standing alongside the summit害羞草研究所檚 biggest celebrity: Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Canadian officials said the two leaders briefly said hello to each other Thursday but had no other interactions beyond that.
Biden met with Xi on the margins of the summit Wednesday in an effort to ease tensions in one of the world害羞草研究所檚 most important geopolitical relationships.
害羞草研究所淭his is not all kumbaya, but it害羞草研究所檚 straightforward,害羞草研究所� Biden said.
害羞草研究所淲e have real differences with Beijing when it comes to maintaining a fair and level economic playing field and protecting your intellectual property.害羞草研究所�
He also insisted the U.S. is committed to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a nascent trade agreement of sorts that hasn害羞草研究所檛 progressed as quickly or as effectively as the White House had hoped it would.
Canada would welcome the chance to join the U.S.-led trade initiative, but the mechanism is still very much under construction, Hillman said.
害羞草研究所淭he first stage is for those parties that have been having these discussions to finish their work. The second stage is for them to share with us what the outcome of that work is, for us to have a look at it and see what it means to us,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淭he United States and many other IPEF members have been very quick to tell us that they害羞草研究所檙e very keen to have Canada within this grouping. But, you know, we have to take it one step at a time.害羞草研究所�
Critics like the Business Council of Canada fear there害羞草研究所檚 an important economic opportunity on the table that could be slipping away.
The progress to date 害羞草研究所渋s a valuable reminder that it is essential for Canada to take part in major multilateral deliberations such as these,害羞草研究所� said president and CEO Goldy Hyder.
The progress on three of the framework害羞草研究所檚 key pillars, including clean energy, an anti-graft section and language on supply chains, 害羞草研究所渨ill shape the future of economic resilience and energy security in the increasingly important Indo-Pacific region,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚t is important as these talks continue that Canada secure their place at the negotiating table.害羞草研究所�
Trade agreements are not politically popular in the U.S. right now, and Congress is gun-shy with a critical election looming on the horizon next year. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), long averse to trade agreements that hurt workers, successfully lobbied against the framework害羞草研究所檚 trade pillar because it lacked sufficient labour protection standards.
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, International Trade Minister Mary Ng noted.
害羞草研究所淲e have trading relationships, and we are doing trade with many of these economies, including with the United States,害羞草研究所� Ng said earlier this week.
害羞草研究所淪o we welcome the opportunity to join (IPEF) when that time is right. But quite candidly, we害羞草研究所檙e already doing the work.害羞草研究所�
Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 afternoon meetings Thursday included bilateral chats with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and a friendly handshake with Mexican President Andr茅s Manuel L贸pez Obrador.
His time in San Francisco wraps up Friday with a summit-ending news conference and a final gathering of economic leaders.
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