Three officials with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) who are working to update Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy said the new plan will focus on boosting trade to the region as well as building stronger defence ties with regional allies.
Canada’s Indo-Pacific plan is undergoing a “recalibration” to meet growing energy demand from Asia and significant opportunities to increase trade and form stronger defence ties with allies throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the officials said during testimony Nov. 19 before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
“Much more must be done for Canada to continue to diversify its exports in line with the prime minister’s objective of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade,” said Weldon Epp, assistant deputy minister of GAC’s Indo-Pacific branch. Epp added that the update is actively “underway” and won’t “take very long.”…