THE ASEAN ADVANTAGE - Exploring Canada’s Trade Potential

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, the Canada-ASEAN Business Council, the Business Council of Canada, and the University of British Columbia have worked together on this report in anticipation of the government-led feasibility study. [...] 2016 Canada-ASEAN Business Outlook Survey The University of British Columbia and the Canada ASEAN Business Council conducted a survey in mid-2016 of Canadian businesses in the ASEAN region, as well as of firms based in Southeast Asia-with strong ties to Canada. [...] 30 THE ASEAN ADVANTAGE Among the factors that make the ASEAN region appealing to Canadian businesses: • Most important is the rapid rise of the middle class among the region’s 600 million inhabitants. [...] In the words of one: “I see a Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement as very important, given the economic difficulties facing the US and its global outreach, the rise of China economically and, in other areas, the uncertainties of the European Union.” CASE STUDIES As a way of gaining deeper insight into the potential benefits of a Canada-ASEAN trade agreement, the University of British Columbia resear. [...] Agrocorp takes the view that a free trade deal would unlock the potential for closer ties between Canada and ASEAN members, in the process raising Canada’s profile in the region.