Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has embarked on his first official visit to Asia in an attempt to deepen trade and security ties at a time when the North American country is struggling to lessen its overwhelming dependence on the United States and redefine its foreign policy in pursuit of new markets.

Canadian government officials said Carney’s week-long trip might also include a meeting with President Xi Jinping in a possible effort to reset a previously fractious relationship worsened by an ongoing trade war.

US President Donald Trump terminated trade talks with Canada via a late-night post on Truth Social on Thursday over an Ontario political ad that used Republican icon Ronald Reagan saying tariffs cause economic disaster.

Analysts say it will be critical for Carney to explain to Asian leaders that Canada has its own agenda and is no longer as aligned with the US, whose president has repeatedly threatened to annex Canada as the 51st state.

"While the world economy is fragmenting, Carney needs to make it clear that Canada stands apart and is still interested in rules-based trade and globalization," said Vina Nadjibulla, vice president of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. Last month, Canada signed a trade deal with Indonesia, aiming to establish duty-free access for up to 95 percent of its goods exported there in the next year.

Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu said Canada is now targeting agreements with the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

Carney will attend the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur, visit Singapore for meetings and attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea. Trump also departed for Malaysia late on Friday.

Analysts say Carney’s credentials as a former central banker and international experience buy him significant credibility that his predecessor often lacked.

Carney spoke with Premier Li Qiang last month and said he expected to meet senior Chinese leadership soon to “see where the trade relationship evolves”. (Reuters)