Trudeau pledges $35M for Pacific Rim projects, meets with APEC leaders in Peru

Original Publication Date November 16, 2024 - 6:01 AM

LIMA, Peru - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is announcing $35 million in Canadian funding for programs across the Pacific Rim ranging from cybersecurity training to fighting domestic violence.

The funding pulls from money that was already allocated, such as the Indo-Pacific strategy the Liberals announced two years ago.

The prime minister made the announcement in Peru in his second day at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

The largest projects involve improving access to reproductive health care for women in Peru and fostering sustainable communities in the country's Andes region.

Trudeau met Saturday with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte as well as Chilean President Gabriel Boric.

The prime minister is set to hold a press conference Saturday afternoon alongside Trade Minister Mary Ng.

The APEC group aims to resolve trade barriers and grow economies across the Pacific Rim, but it's been challenged by rising protectionism.

A frequent topic of discussion at the summit's public events has been how to maintain rules-based trade as U.S. president-elect Donald Trump vows to implement sweeping tariffs.

Canada has doubled down on its focus on trade, announcing Friday that negotiations were complete for a trade agreement with Indonesia.

That country has a booming economy, and Trudeau's office says it is Canada's largest export market in Southeast Asia, particularly for agriculture, manufactured goods and natural resources.

As part of Canada's engagement across the Pacific Rim, Trudeau has announced support for programs such as a $3.9-million investment in the BlackBerry Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in Malaysia, which will train 3,500 people from across the region in an effort to boost local jobs in government, research, and industry.

Another project involves integrating at least 2,500 Venezuelan refugees with medical degrees into Peru's medical system.

Trudeau has also announced that Canada will seek to expand nuclear-energy collaboration across Southeast Asia, particularly for countries grappling with how to adequately power computers and data centres used for artificial intelligence.

Trudeau said that would bring jobs and more regional clout to Canada.

The prime minister had informal meetings on the sidelines of the APEC summit, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is a particularly important figure due to Beijing's push for closer ties to South America.

Xi this week unveiled a mega port in Peru, and newspapers and billboards around Lima have been promoting Chinese companies. An ad from one Chinese alcohol maker shows Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China, wishing a successful APEC summit in both Spanish and Chinese.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 16, 2024.