A free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) and Canada will be a win-win for all sides, particularly in the context of economies that are struggling to come out of the pandemic, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Photo: AFP/VNA Photo)
Ottawa (VNA) – A free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) and Canada will be a win-win for all sides, particularly in the context of economies that are struggling to come out of the pandemic, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said.
He told a virtual business summit organised by ASEAN on October 25 that Canada has long sought a trade deal with the 10-nation bloc.
Speaking in a pre-recorded message, Trudeau said that an agreement with ASEAN would help companies and entrepreneurs build connections and business relationships around the world.
He also said a pact would give investors more confidence to invest in international markets, and protect supply chains from the uncertainties brought by COVID-19.
Trade bottlenecks across the globe have been slower to recover than consumer demand for goods and slowed further by ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks and public health measures.
“As we finish the fight against COVID-19, deepening our ties with ASEAN economies and diversifying trade across the Asia-Pacific will play a crucial role in our recovery,” Trudeau said in his address.
ASEAN is Canada’s sixth largest trading partner. The country has access to four ASEAN members – Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam – through a Pacific Rim trade pact known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
The Liberals’ election platform promised to help businesses take advantage of opportunities under CPTPP, and a new Asia-Pacific strategy aimed at deepening ties in the region, including new trade deals.
According to a preliminary assessment by the 🅘Canadian government, an ASEAN-Canada free trade agreement could increase Canadian exports of goods and services to the bloc by 13.3 percent, vꦚalued at 2.67 billion USD./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has sent a congratulatory message to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau over the Liberal Party’s win in the 44th general election in Canada, the Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department said on September 28./.
Relations with Vietnam will remain a priority of Canada’s Liberal Party (LP), led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and grow stronger in the following years, commented Canadian scholars.
Two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Canada increased by 12.8 percent last year and 28.5 percent in the first seven months of this year, reflecting a reliable and complementary trading partnership, Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Cao Phong has said.
A workshop on cooperation opportunities in clean and renewable energy development between Vietnam and Quebec of Canada took place on October 21 in both online and face-to-face forms, attracting the participation of Canadian scholars and representatives from businesses of the two countries.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
The new halal cooperation arrangement will streamline halal certification and product assurance processes, making it easier for New Zealand exporters to access the Indonesian market.
VAMAF President Datuk Shaharuddin Omar shared the plan at the association’s 103rd anniversary ceremony, noting support from the Vietnam Veterans Association. The initiative is expected to open new markets for Malaysian Halal products and improve livelihoods for its members.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (Photo: AFP/VNA Photo) 
