The formal agenda of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Japan this week is straightforward: boost trade, improve economic and cultural ties. Canadian oil would be a welcome new source of supply from a stable, democratic trading partner. In Canada, new Japanese demand might provide a welcome incentive for pipeline development. During a visit to Japan in March, the officials and opinion leaders I spoke with were, almost without exception, consumed with the question of Trump. This is clearly in both nations’ interests – because of, not in spite of, the rise of Trumpism in the United States and anti-internationalist movements in Europe.

Source: National Post May 24, 2016 16:26 UTC