Thousands of miles from home, Trudeau learns of dissension in his caucus

The free trade agreement with ASEAN is expected to be signed at the end of 2025. If Trudeau is pressured to step down, or if his government falls and loses the next election, Trudeau will not, as prime minister, be there to see the fruits of his labour.

In the last hours of his first visit to Laos, the prime minister watched two fishermen cast bamboo nets into the muddy waters of the Mekong River. They were trying to catch tiny fish, each the length of a man's index finger, to later use as bait for something much more substantial.

The image of Justin Trudeau in rolled sleeves, lifting up a net with his youngest son Hadrien at his side, makes for suitable a metaphor for Canada's trade strategy in the region: Many small investments designed to reel in bigger opportunities for future generations.

After his 27-hour journey to Vientiane, Laos, Trudeau spent just 36 hours in the capital city. He was there to attend the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); his third year in a row.

”It’s something no other Canadian prime minister has ever done,” Trudeau boasted during his remarks at the summit’s big banquet.“The faces around the table may change from year to year, but I truly feel at home, here.”

Since 2015, the year the Liberals swept into power with a majority, Canada has nearly doubled its trade with the 10 ASEAN nations to $38.8 billion dollars. Combined, the bloc of countries is Canada’s fourth-largest trading partner.

The federal government is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with Indonesia, which should be wrapped up by the end of the year, and another deal with the rest of the ASEAN nations in on track to be signed a few months later.

Economists say it is an opportune time for expansion.