PM Carney to cap off ASEAN summit with focus on trade deals, ahead of Francophonie

Detailed summary

Prime Minister Mark Carney is wrapping up a brief visit to the Philippines and heading to Cambodia, as the government pushes for more trade access in the region.

MANILA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is wrapping up a brief visit to the Philippines and heading to Cambodia, as the government pushes for more trade access in the region.

Carney is at the summit of the Associate of Southeast Asian nations, where Canada concluded negotiations for a trade deal with the Philippines and continues talks for a deal with the wide bloc of 11 countries.

Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu tells reporters travelling with Carney that the wider deal gives access to smaller countries, while Canada also has deeper agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines.

Carney is set to meet today with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit.

He will then leave for Cambodia for a summit of the Francophonie, including a side event on technology trade in Phnom Penh.

While there, Carney will meet with Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon who is pushing for more autonomy in Quebec’s international relations, though Sidhu says Ottawa is working constructively with the province.

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