Dans l'actualité

Carney heads to China next week, seeking new markets and better relations

Globe and Mail, January 8, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla cautioned Ottawa on being clear-eyed about what diplomacy with Beijing can and cannot deliver and the risk that China will weaponize closer relations.

“Carney will focus on economic co-operation including opening up new opportunities in conventional and clean energy, and on managing tariffs on Canadian exports of canola, pork, and seafood. In that sense, the trip could serve Canadian interests."

But, she added, China is not simply another large market to be balanced against the U.S. “The Chinese Communist Party routinely conditions market access and economic engagement on silence – or acquiescence – on issues Beijing defines as core interests, including Taiwan,“ she said.

Chrétien sets the stage in Beijing

Politico - Canada Playbook, January 8, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: While it makes sense to deepen economic relations with China, where it aligns with Canada's interests, Nadjibulla cautions Ottawa to "take steps to protect [Canada's] national security." 

She notes that such steps could include investment screenings, and researching guidelines around critical tech, including areas around advanced technologies, AI, space, defense, [and] dual-use technologies." 

Nadjibulla adds that deepening energy cooperation with China has the potential to bolster the Canadian economy, but such agreements should not come at the expense of Canada's G7 partnerships and its pursuit of building a "China-free supply chain when it comes to critical minerals." 

CBC News Network’s Andrew Nichols speaks to Vina Nadjibulla of the Asia Pacific Foundation

CBC News, January 7, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: “Prime Minister Carney's [upcoming] visit marks an important milestone in Canada-China relations... the timing of course is against the backdrop of growing tensions in Canada's relationship with the Trump administration and growing efforts from Canada to diversify our trading partnerships."

Nadjibulla says finding pathways for co-operation in the "energy sector" will be front and centre during the visit, amongst other critical topics such as "tariffs on EVs and agricultural products."

Nadjibulla says she expects to see some bilateral announcements from the meeting, particularly on the energy front, but cautions against any news on Canada's tariff relationship with China. "That's more challenging because whatever Canada does on this file has to also take into account the U.S."

What message does the U.S. capture of Maduro send to China?

CTV News, January 7, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: “We had China and Russia already operating on the principles of might makes right, but it was U.S. power that was restraining them. With the U.S. abandoning that, it’s really difficult to see where things will go in the next months,” says Vina Nadjibulla. 

After these recent events, China, she says, will prioritize securing its economic and commercial interests in Venezuela. Trump has said that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela and its oil industry, which could put it on a collision course with Beijing.
 

Canada: Premier of British Columbia Davd Eby set to lead trade mission to India next week

Hindustan Times, January 7, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla says Eby's recently announcement mission reflects the reality that there is a “growing appetite at the sub-national level as well for engaging with India.” She also says it was a reflection of the “pragmatic foreign policy” adopted by Ottawa.

"There’s a need to work with partners with whom there are disagreements.”

New GAC report on ‘game-changing’ Canada-Indonesia deal reduces projected export growth by more than half

The Hill Times, January 5, 2026 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla says that Canada's bilateral trade deal with Indonesia "offers predictability to Canadian businesses and investors... [and] institutional linkages between Canada and Indonesia, which will grow over time. It signals strategic alignment and a desire to do more with Southeast Asia, and with Indonesia in particular. 

“But if you look at the bigger picture of Southeast Asia, there is still a lot of opportunities for Canadians because our exporters in energy and in foods will still need those markets... it still is an important agreement, and a lot of it will depend on implementation, which is not just a matter of what is happening in Indonesia in terms of opportunities, but also how prepared Canadian businesses are to take full advantage of that." 

Carney’s foreign policy shift to trade, security prompts questions about human rights

The Canadian Press, December 29, 2025 

Featuring: Stephen Nagy, Senior Fellow, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nagy speaks to his experience training Canadian diplomats for Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the shifting priorities as the department neglects to ask him to emphasize gender and identity issues. 

“That tells me a lot about the direction" of GAC. “If these were priorities, that course would have had at least two hours on it, but it went through multiple layers of the bureaucracy, and they didn’t ask for any inclusion of those issues." He says, "the values-based approach to Canadian diplomacy in the [Indo-Pacific] region was by and large seen as schizophrenic at best, and completely misguided, at worst."

Nagy adds that the Trudeau government previously put the environment, labour, and gender issues “at the forefront” of its engagement across Asian countries.

India eyes speedy, year-long negotiation to finalize trade pact with Canada

The Hill Times, December 13, 2025 

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: "The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy, said finishing trade talks with India by February 2027 is an 'ambitious timeline.'

'But it also reflects the urgency that both countries feel when it comes to diversifying their trade and economic partnerships,' she said. 

She said that times have changed since the difficulty in making progress at the negotiation table in 2023, including the trade shocks coming from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has targeted both Canada and India with tariffs....

'India’s calculus has changed, and, of course, Canada’s calculus has also changed now that our diversification agenda is much more front and centre.'"

Should Canada Pivot to China? | TVO Today Live

TVO Today Live, December 13, 2025 (Recorded on December 4, 2025)

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla joined Constantine Karayannopoulos from the Canada China Business Council, The Hon. Mary Ng, former Minister of International Trade of Canada and Lynette Ong from the University of Toronto (and APF Canada Senior Fellow), with host Steve Paikin at St.Lawrence Hall in Toronto for a live panel discussion on Canada's diplomatic renewal with China. 

Nadjibulla notes that when Canada does "trade with China... there are risks involved." Being "over dependent on China for certain trade, in a sector like canola, [Canada] opens itself up to potential retaliation when there are disagreements with China on diplomatic or political issues." 

More than anything, she emphasizes a need to be "cautious, clear-eyed, and de-risk at the same time as we deepen trade with China," such as by doing "less in critical sectors and looking to other parts of Asia" for economic diversification.

She also discusses what she calls Mark Carney's "variable geometry of engagement" with China, wherein "certain interests may align, but [Canada] needs to be clear-eyed that our values do not," promoting a degree of "selective engagement."

Canada’s China reset just got much harder

The Hill Times, December 11, 2025

Guest Contributor: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: In a new op-ed by Vina Nadjibulla, published by The Hill Times, she unpacks U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security strategy, released on December 4, that "places new constraints on Canada’s China policy at the very moment Ottawa is attempting to stabilize relations with Beijing. It marks a decisive shift in how Washington, D.C. sees China, its allies, and its own neighbourhood...

For Canada, these shifts matter. They redefine the strategic environment in which Prime Minister Mark Carney is attempting to recalibrate Canada’s relationship with China and diversify partnerships in the Indo-Pacific."

Canada Confirms Indonesia as a Priority Partner in the Agri-Food Sector

Bogor Raya Daily, December 11, 2025

Featuring: Barrett Bingley, Asia Regional Director, APF Canada

Excerpt: "Bingley, Regional Director for Asia for the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada ), emphasized that the current cooperation environment between Indonesia and Canada is at its strongest point in history, particularly in the sectors of food security , agribusiness, processed food, cold chain logistics, and food safety technology. 

He conveyed this in his remarks at the “Canada in Asia: Momentum Jakarta” event held on December 10, 2025. In his speech, Bingley commended all the organizing partners—from the Canadian Embassy , ​​ICCC, GAPMMI, Kadin, CABC, to PIIS AGRO—who he said played a significant role in broadening the bridges of economic collaboration between the two countries. He stated that the successful implementation of the Momentum series in Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, and finally Jakarta, demonstrated the region's enthusiasm for the strategic partnership with Canada ."

Canada Aims to Expand Agrifood Co-operation with Indonesia

Borne News (Indonesia) , December 10, 2025

Featuring: Barrett Bingley, Asia Regional Director, APF Canada

Excerpt: At Canada-in-Asia: Momentum Jakarta, speakers explored Canada's growing agrifood co-operation with Indonesia and how "Canada commodities, such as wheat, soybeans, and potash [can] help meeting growing food needs and encourage agricultural activity" in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Asia Regional Director Barrett Bingley highlighted the opportunities for deepening agrifood collaboration through Canada and Indonesia's Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA).

"There are many different areas to build deeper partnerships, both in development and commercial aspects, to help Indonesia achieve its national targets," he told Borne News.

The Ministry of Trade offers tropical fruit to Canada following the signing of the ICA-CEPA.

Antara News, December 10, 2025

Featuring: Canada-in-Asia: Momentum Jakarta 

Excerpt: "The Ministry of Trade [of Indonesia] is offering to expand trade cooperation through tropical fruit exports to Canada following the signing of the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA).

The Director General of International Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, stated at the Canada–In-Asia: Momentum Jakarta event in Jakarta on Wednesday that Indonesian and Canadian commodities are different and therefore can complement each other, one of which is in the horticultural sector."

Worst Best Job Ever

Politco - Canada Playbook, December 10, 2025

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt:  Canadian Ambassador to the United States, Kristen Hillman, has announced she will step down from her role in the new year. Despite the current trade disruptions, "Hillman said her greatest accomplishment was working to secure the release of two Canadian men who spent more than 1,000 days arbitrarily imprisoned in China from 2018 to 2021." 

Nadjibulla, who led the campaign to secure the release of Michael Kovirg and Michael Spavor, told Politico that Hillman displayed “extraordinary determination, humanity, and strategic skill to an effort that demanded all three. We were fortunate to have her as our ambassador at such a critical time." 

Indonesia-Canada Agricultural Sector Collaboration Enters a New Era

Liputan 6 News (Indonesia) , December 10, 2025

Featuring: Canada-in-Asia: Momentum Jakarta 

Excerpt: "Cooperation between Indonesia and Canada in the agricultural sector has entered a new phase, considered stronger and more strategic than before. This is in line with the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

This was the focus of a panel discussion titled "Insights to Actions on Canada-Indonesia Partnerships in Agrifood," held as part of the Momentum Jakarta series. Attended by leaders from the agriculture and trade sectors, as well as government representatives from both countries, the discussion emphasized that collaboration must be translated into concrete action."

Liputan 6 highlights insights and takeaways from key speakers at APF Canada's Momentum event in Jakarta including Devi Rachmawati, Vice Chairwoman for Agriculture at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), who notes that Indonesia needs "the right policies and technological support... Canada can enter this space through technology transfer and investment."

Canada shifts trade focus to ASEAN after tariff war with US

Anatara News (Indonesia), December 10, 2025

Featuring: Barrett Bingley, Asia Regional Director, APF Canada

Excerpt: "The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) think tank stated that Canada is increasingly focusing on the ASEAN market after the tariff war with the United States  affected trade relations between the two countries.

APF Canada's Asia Regional Director, Barrett Bingley, said at the Canada–In-Asia: Momentum Jakarta event on Wednesday that Canada is now seeking new markets as it seeks to reduce its economic dependence on the US. He considers ASEAN to be the most promising region thanks to its young demographics and high Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

Bingley expressed confidence that Canada's trade growth would not come from Europe because the continent was not showing strong GDP growth.According to him, the global economic growth in the next few years will systematically be concentrated in several regions in Asia."

ICBC Annual National Convention 2025 | New Delhi | India–Canada Strategic Dialogue Highlights

Indo-Canadian Business Chamber, December 8, 2025

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Experience the highlights video from the ICBC Annual National Convention 2025, held on November 24 at The Oberoi, New Delhi — a flagship forum convening senior leaders from government, industry, and institutions from India and Canada.

This year’s Convention brought forward powerful discussions on India–Canada economic collaboration, advanced manufacturing & innovation, clean energy and critical minerals, trade and investment, and sectoral growth opportunities. 

APF Canada was pleased to co-sponsor the conference. The event was part of an extended week of events and engagements focused on the Canada-India reset by Vice-President, Research & Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla. Learn more here. 

Martial law: Year after South Korea imposed it, where else is it in force?

Al Jazeera, December 3, 2025

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Ukraine’s situation is closer to what Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research and Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, described as a “state of emergency, where governments activate special powers – such as curfews, bans on gatherings, or expanded policing – but within a constitutional framework that keeps civilian institutions, including parliament and the judiciary, formally in charge.

Regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, Nadjibulla says “military commanders have taken over local administration, civilian courts have been sidelined, and open criticism of the regime or its proposed elections can lead to harsh punishment.” She described Myanmar as the “clearest example [of martial law] in the Asia Pacific."

Canadian businesses find their way into Vietnam

Z News, December 1, 2025

Featuring: Barrett Bingley, Asia Regional Director, APF Canada

Excerpt: Sharing on the sidelines of the "Momentum Ho Chi Minh City" event recently organized by the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada), Mr. Barrett Bingley, Asia Regional Director of APF Canada, commented that Vietnam is currently considered a "rising star" not only in Southeast Asia but also in the entire Indo-Pacific region. 

A New Australia-Canada-India Partnership

Policy Magazine, November 30, 2025

Featuring: David McKinnon, Senior Fellow, APF Canada

Excerpt: If the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation Partnership (ACITI) announced by Anthony Albanese, Mark Carney and Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in Johannesburg works, it will be unprecedented in economic, strategic, and symbolic terms.

The initiative, which includes co-operation on AI, clean energy, and critical minerals, has significant potential to enhance Canada’s image as a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific, assuming our commitment has staying power...

Over the past year, I have been part of a productive track II (non-government) dialogue on the future of Canada-India relations, organized on the Canadian side by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada."