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Carney wraps up Indo-Pacific trade trip with new Japan partnership

CTV News, March 7, 2026

Featuring: Christine Nakamura, Vice-President, Central Canada Office, APF Canada

Excerpt:   Nakamura tells CTV News that the signing of a new partnership with Japan "demonstrates that the relationship is definitely elevated.... with Prime Minister Carney's visit... the way the Japanese have welcomed him... [shows] the relationship is on the way up." 

Speaking on the future areas for co-operation between Canada and Japan, Nakamura affirms that there is "room for growth" in economic ties and investment. She also see's further co-operation in the defence sector, noting that several agreements were signed recently to "help facilitate... the strengthening of defence co-operation which is very important to both Canada and Japan and part of [Canada's] Indo-Pacific Strategy."  

Mark Carney signs new strategic partnership with Japan

CTV News, March 6, 2026

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

Excerpt:   Vina Nadjibulla points to the North Pacific Ocean as a gateway to the Arctic, the context underlined by ongoing diplomatic disputes and tensions between China and Japan.

“We need to be doing a lot more with Japan and with Korea when it comes to understanding the threat from China and Russia to basically Canada’s Western part of our Arctic,” she told CTV News.

Nadjibulla says it’s a good time for Carney to be visiting in general, given Takaichi’s landslide win and commitment to investing in Japanese defence and security.

“She has popular support in a way that we haven’t seen in many, many years in Japan,” Nadjibulla.

China’s economic leaders share plans for growth, trade, tech development

CNA, March 6, 2026

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

Excerpt:   In this short trip to Japan, Nadjibulla tells CNA (starting at 29:00) that PM Carney is "going to try to do a lot to deepen and elevate an already strong partnership with Japan." 

She said the trip will have a broad-ranging agenda with discussions on "critical minerals and energy" to Canada's "defence and economic security partnership" with Japan which has been strengthen throughout 2025. 

"In the current global environment... there is a lot that Canada and Japan can do together." 
 

Mark Carney signs new strategic partnership with Japan

BNN Bloomberg, March 6, 2026

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

Excerpt:   “We need to be doing a lot more with Japan and with Korea when it comes to understanding the threat from China and Russia to basically Canada’s Western part of our Arctic,” she told CTV News.

She says it’s a good time for Carney to be visiting in general, given Takaichi’s landslide win and commitment to investing in Japanese defence and security.

“She has popular support in a way that we haven’t seen in many, many years in Japan... She’s investing in Japan’s partnerships with other democracies. So it’s a great moment for Prime Minister Carney to essentially further deepen that relationship.”

Carney to cap Indo-Pacific trip with Tokyo visit focused on trade, security

The Canadian Press, March 5, 2026

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

Excerpt:   “The trip is long overdue, given how significant Japan is as a partner for us in the region,” Nadjibulla said in a recent interview.

Ottawa has said repeatedly that Japan is a major priority country for Canada, and polling shows it’s often the Asian country Canadians trust most, Nadjibulla said.

“The relationship is in a really good place. But because of that, it’s easy to overlook it and to not give it the kind of attention that it deserves."

In Tokyo, Carney signs agreement with Japanese counterpart to expand trade and defence ties

CBC News, March 5, 2026

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

Excerpt:   "I think Japan was watching the China trip with a little bit more trepidation than our other allies would,” Nadjibulla told CBC News. “Japan is a big investor in the Canadian auto sector. Inviting Chinese investments — that will have implications for the Japanese."

China and Japan don’t get along, and there’s been some recent tension driven by Japan's pledge to defend Taiwan if attacked and subsequent Chinese economic and military retaliation.

“So much of our focus has been, of course, on President Trump and his economic coercion. But Japan is still dealing with a very difficult situation with China. I think, for Canada, we need to show democratic solidarity and we need to have some frank conversations with them about our Indo-Pacific strategy and how it’s evolving."

Carney in Australia to build on ‘important’ trade, defence relationship

The Canadian Press, March 3, 2026

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

Excerpt:   “Australia obviously is a natural partner for Canada in the Indo-Pacific,” Asia Pacific Foundation vice-president Vina Nadjibulla said in an interview last month.

Both countries are commodity exporters, and Nadjibulla noted that Beijing has swapped sourcing imports from one country or the other at times of friction, such as buying Australian canola products when it restricted Canadian imports during a diplomatic row.

Among Indo-Pacific nations, Australia has been “by far the leading source” of foreign direct investment in both directions for Canada, Nadjibulla said, particularly for Canadian pension funds

Carney lands in Australia looking to draw closer to a Commonwealth cousin also grappling with Trump

CBC News, March 3, 2026

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

Excerpt:   “Australia is extremely close to Canada in terms of our values but it's geographically so far away that a lot of times Canadians don't think about how important Australia can be for us as a partner,” said Najibulla.

“I think this trip provides an opportunity to get a closer look of the state of the relationship now, but also the potential of the relationship moving forward."

Carney Down Under

The Hill Times - Politics This Morning, March 3, 2026

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

Excerpt:   Reflecting on Carney’s visit, an expert in Indo-Pacific policy told Politics This Morning that Canada must diversify its trade with India, but not leave public safety on the back burner either. 

Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President (Research & Strategy) at Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said Canada must pursue both its agendas simultaneously.

“In some ways, having more dialogue with India could help in moving forward on the security and law enforcement file as well, as long as there is genuine cooperation and discussions and progress made on that track,” she said.  

A new poll commissioned by the foundation released on Mar. 1 showed that while a majority of Canadians are in favour of extending ties with India, they are also cautious about the pace of the talks. 

Carney in Australia to deepen trade and defence ties with 'natural partner'

Time Colonist, March 3, 2026

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

Excerpt:   "Australia obviously is a natural partner for Canada in the Indo-Pacific," Nadjibulla said in a recent interview.

"Australia has a lot more inroads in its relationships, and Canada wants to do more. We can pool resources essentially, and bring more scale and more depth when we show up in that region, if we partner with Australia," she said.

While Australia has been grappling with the erratic policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, Nadjibulla said it's important to remember that Canada is far more integrated into the American economy by virtue of proximity.

"They're less exposed to the volatility and unpredictability of Trump," she said. "Public opinion is not as focused on President Trump in Australia. They're much more focused on Southeast Asia, where Ottawa has various trade deals signed or under negotiation."

Have Modi & Carney Reset India-Canada Relations?

TVO Today - The Rundown, March 2, 2026

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

Excerpt:   Promises from both the PM Carney and PM Modi to fast-track negotiations on a Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by the end of the year is "one of the critical outcomes of Prime Minister Carney's visit," Nadjibulla tells TVO Today. 

That agreement would "unlock about $30 billion in additional trade.... create a more predictable environment for our business... [and] reduce tariffs for certain exporters." 

While Canada and India have a history of diplomatic and economic tension, Nadjibulla says we "have to see this as a new opportunity" as Canada and India are both approaching these new negotiations with "a lot more urgency than they have in the past."
 

What’s at stake as Canada deepens economic and security ties with India?

CBC News - Power & Politics, March 2, 2026

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

Excerpt:   "Now prime minister Carney will need to bring these two narratives together. He's going to have to bridge the enormous economic potential he sees in the relationship with India, and how critical that is for Canada's economic resilience, with the remaining challenges and the hesitation that exists here in Canada about deeper relations with India." 

"...The [Canadian] government believes that the two things can happen in parallel, that in fact they are mutually reinforcing. They would argue that in the last few months, there has been more co-operation from India... than there has been in the last two years... in the current global environment.... they feel we do not have the luxury of not engaging with India."

Canada’s new trade deal with India an ‘elevation of the relationship,' global affairs expert says

CTV News, March 2, 2026

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

Excerpt:   The signing of $5.5 B in trade deals between Canada-India marks a "significant day in Canada-India relations" Nadjibulla told CTV. 

"There is a real, clear economic logic to this relationship now" with both parties looking to wrap up negotiations on a Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement within the next year. 

"I think there is a huge economic complementarity here and the prime minister's trying to focus the relationship there and use that dialogue to then be able to push issues on foreign interference." 

Comparatively, she also says "there is a lot more opportunity with India" than with China, whom Canada's has also looked to reset relations with late last year. 

Majority of Canadians support Carney’s ongoing India visit, survey finds

Hindustan Times, March 2, 2026

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

Excerpt:  Polling from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute  in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada found that 53% of respondents thought it “is the right time for Carney to go on an official visit to India, with a further 7% believing the trip is too long in coming.”

Commenting of these findings, Vina Nadjibulla, said, “the diplomatic reset with India has not yet translated into a public opinion reset. Canadians support engagement — but they don’t feel positively about India. If Ottawa wants this reset to endure, it will need to clearly articulate why India matters to Canada’s economic security and diversification in a more fragmented global economy.”

“The reset has political space, but it hasn’t yet translated into public warmth. That means governments now have to clearly articulate why India matters to Canada’s economic security and diversification and the visit has to translate into concrete results Canadian can see." 

Canada’s response to U.S. military action in Iran & talking trade with India

Global News, March 2, 2026

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

Excerpt:  Nadjibulla cautiously says that PM Carney's support of U.S. action in Iran aligns with this "pragmatic foreign policy" approach to managing Canada's delicate relationship with the U.S. 

On Carney's trip to India, she noted the announcement by both parties on an expansion in the relationship including a wide-range of sectors such as a "ten-year deal on uranium." 

PM Carney, she says, sees economic diversification as a "national imperative... he's trying to say 'we need to re-engage with India,' and through that re-engagement we can also address the hard issues, including on foreign interference." 

'We don't take advantage of this opportunity, Canadian businesses might be placed out': Nadjibulla

BNN Bloomberg, March 2, 2026

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

Excerpt:  "We have seen not just a diplomatic reset, but a significant expansion and elevation of the [Canada-India] relationship with a focus on an economic partnership," Nadjibulla told BNN Bloomberg. 

However, she cites "domestic political challenges" as a potential hindering factor to the Canada-India relationship. 

"A lot will depend on how the [Canadian] prime minister and the government are able to communicate clearly what their vision for India is, how they are going to be able to fully capitalize on the economic opportunities... [while] at the same time managing the public safety concerns and the public perceptions that still exist" about India in Canada.

Is India the answer to Canada's trade troubles?

CBC News: The Current (Podcast), March 1, 2026

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

Excerpt:   What does it take to break into India's market? "You have to show up in person... and build those relationships... on the ground," Nadjibulla says. Making use of Canada's trading ecosystem in the region to leverage opportunities and clearly understanding your value proposition, she added, and key factors when it comes India's business deals.

"India may have seemed far away, but with this visit the [Canadian] prime minster has really opened up a lot of doors. We do have a moment of opportunity and I hope more Canadians take it." 

Carney secures $2.6-billion uranium supply deal with India, launches talks on trade deal

The Globe and Mail, March 1, 2026

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

Excerpt:  "The diplomatic reset with India has not yet translated into a public opinion reset,” Vina Nadjibulla said.

Canadians support engagement, but they don’t feel positively about India, she said. “If Ottawa wants this reset to endure, it will need to clearly articulate why India matters to Canada’s economic security and diversification and how it is dealing with the ongoing foreign interference and security concerns.”

Explore APF Canada's latest survey on Canada-India relations, conducted in partnership with the Angus Reid Institute. 

Canada’s Mark Carney kicks off ‘middle power alliance’ tour with trip to India

Financial Times, February 28, 2026

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

Excerpt:  “This trip provides an opportunity for Carney to operationalize or to test his middle power diplomacy in the region,” said  Nadjibulla.

Nadjibulla said Carney’s goal in India — which has overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy — was “a full reset with a much more ambitious agenda of reengagement in every sector”, while the China trip was a “recalibration.”

PM looks to reset diplomatic relations and boost trade in India

Global News, February 28, 2026

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

Excerpt:  PM Carney, Nadjibulla argues, is "trying to reframe the [Canada-India] relationship as an important partnership.... he called Canada and India natural partners... [and] complimentary economies." 

She emphasizes the two-track approach the Canadian PM and his delegation are pursuing on this trip that consists of both "security and law enforcement dialogue" and high-level dialogues on deepening economic engagement. "In order for [Canada] to reduce reliance on [the U.S.], we have to build relationships across the world, and India is just too important, too consequential, too large of an economy to ignore." She argues that Canada can and should be doing both things at once.