Article content continued

“The end of the year is a very tight timeline,” to conclude the TPP, Najib said. “We will have discussions in Bali and we will have a sense whether that timetable is feasible but our sense is that it may take longer than the time horizon of the end of the year.”

Harper was no more optimistic than his Malaysian counterpart about the talks, which Obama wants to lead to a deal that will be “the gold standard” for the 21st century.

The negotiators have much to still do

“There will be a conversation about this among the heads of government who are present except for Mr. Obama and there has been progress,” Harper said. “But as Prime Minister Najib said, the negotiators have much to still do.”

The Canadian prime minister remained upbeat about Canada’s chances to snag a growing share of Asia-Pacific trade, which he made a top priority three years ago.

“It is no international secret that the rise of Asia is on the minds of all of us,” Harper said. “It will be one of the dominant realities of the coming century. It is one of the reasons we continue to put a greater emphasis on Asian relations. I think that western countries will have their place in the world provided that we make good decisions. We in the West have very prominent prosperous economies with lots of skills and in most cases systems of government that are very stable over long periods of time.”

Canada had been trying to prepare for the new trade realities by paying more attention to budgets, debt levels and labour markets, he said.

“All these reforms are necessary to make sure that we will be a significant partner in the world economy for the decades to come,” he said. “I continue to believe that if we avoid some of the pitfalls of some other western countries, that there is no country in the world with a greater potential for its citizens as Canada.”

With files from Andrea Hill, Postmedia News, and The Canadian Press