Canada, Indonesia agree to trade pact as APEC summit braces for Trump – National [Video]

Ottawa has concluded negotiations for a trade deal with Indonesia and is proposing nuclear-energy collaboration with Southeast Asian leaders.

The moves are a show of faith for multilateralism as the re-election of Donald Trump in the United States is raising fears of further strain in global co-operation on trade and the environment.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima on Friday, announcing the end of trade talks that should lead to Canada signing a new deal with the world’s fourth-most populous country next year.

It comes as Trump’s impending return to the White House looms large over the discussions of the APEC grouping, which aims to improve trade among Pacific Rim nations.

Trump’s first presidency saw him pull back from many multilateral agreements, including the Paris climate agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, of which half of APEC nations are members.

This …