Canada and ASEAN elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2022 and are currently negotiating a ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA). As Canada looks to diversify beyond the U.S. and deepen its Indo-Pacific ties, ASEAN—home to over 670 million people—is central to Canada’s long-term economic and strategic interests.
On September 15, APF Canada hosted a panel exploring how Canada can align more closely with the priorities of Malaysia (ASEAN Chair in 2025) and the Philippines (Chair in 2026), and how those priorities can be leveraged to advance the Strategic Partnership and ACAFTA negotiations.
Speakers:
- Richard Heydarian, University of the Philippines Asian Center; APF Canada 2025 Indo-Pacific Visiting Scholar
- Dr. Tricia Yeoh, University of Nottingham Malaysia; APF Canada Senior Fellow
- Kai Ostwald, HSBC Chair and Director, Institute of Asian Research, UBC; APF Canada Senior Fellow (Discussant)
- Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada (Moderator)
This event served as the conclusion of APF Canada's Indo-Pacific Visiting Scholar Richard Heydarian's Canadian speaking tour
