Carney concludes Indo-Pacific trip with new Japan trade, defence agreement

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call for middling powers to collaborate has drawn in support from Japan as he completes his Indo-Pacific visits.

Concluding his trip in the Pacific, Carney and the Japanese government signed a new agreement Friday, pledging that both countries will work closer together on trade and defence.

No cash was put on the table in Tokyo during Friday’s meeting, but Canada and Japan shook hands on building a framework together around defence, energy, trade and technology.

“In this changing security and economic environment, Canada and Japan, with our meeting today, are deepening our long standing partnership,” said Carney.

During a sit-down with Japanese officials, Carney described the need to react during a global turning point, which is something Japan appears to agree with.

“That’s a common theme of our governments: my government was elected with a clear mandate to build boldly, with a speed not seen in generations, and we’re acting,” said Carney.

Carney concludes his 10-day Indo-Pacific trip Friday and leaves Japan with a new, strategic partnership with its government.

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Dollars were not put to paper, but both nations agreed to cooperate better, which includes defence-related matters like emergency response, naval patrol in the pacific, cyber security and trade.

Meaning future partnerships on critical minerals and energy.

“Last year, production began at LNG Canada, which is of great significance for Japan’s energy security. In addition, construction of the first SMR, a small modular reactor in the G7, began in Ontario,” said Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, according to a translation provided by the Japanese government.

In the midst of the agreement, Canada appears to inch closer to new beginnings in the energy sector.

Back in Canada, Ottawa and Alberta signed a deal Friday that will see infrastructure projects move quicker and more efficiently through provincial and federal jurisdictions.

Paving the way for a potential new pipeline to the B.C. coast.

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“The recent conflict in Iran demonstrates how much Japan relies on oil exports from the Middle East, which is a volatile region,” said Phillip Lipscy, professor of Political Science and Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. “So any initiative that gives Japan additional options to access those raw materials is something they will be very interested in.”

On the geopolitical front, both Canada and Japan continue to have trading ties with the U.S.

A relationship that has taken a turn since U.S. President Donald Trump unleashed world-wide levies on goods.

“I don’t think either side is happy about what’s going on right now in their relationship with the United States, but I don’t see this as a ‘hedge’ off the United States,” said Jonathan Miller, Co-founder of Pendulum Geopolitical Advisory. “I see this as, in many ways, a lot of these economic deals, for example, could ‘hedge’ into supply chains linked in with the United States. So, Japan has been very risk-averse and cautious about saying too much that would be seen as critical to the United States.”

Sticking with trade, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc had a discussion with Trump’s trade czar Friday, as both countries prepare to revisit the upcoming Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement review and other bilateral issues.

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