"EAS and APEC members are weighing up why Canada should be added to EAS following the TPP," said a senior official.

"The fact is that delegations and leaders were gobsmacked at their behaviour."

Straight after the APEC meeting in Vietnam, Mr Trudeau attended the EAS in Manila, the Philippines, on Monday as an observer. As the first Canadian prime minister to be invited, he used the occasion to make overtures towards member nations about Canada's desire to engage more deeply in the the region. This further put noses out of joint.

"He pulled out of the TPP at five minutes to midnight and then he rocked up at the EAS like he belonged there," said the official.

A summary of chatter among officials was that "a Prime Minister was invited for the first time and he stuffed it up by what he did at APEC. (He) failed to realise that his actions in one Asia forum would have a detrimental impact on his aspirations for the other key forum."

The leaders of Australia, Japan and other TPP signatory nations were shocked on Friday night when they gathered to revive the 12-nation regional trade pact, which had been declared dead when Donald Trump became US President and withdrew.

Just 24 hours earlier in Da Nang, Vietnam, trade minsters of the 11 remaining TPP members, including Australia's Steven Ciobo and Canada's Francois-Philippe Champagne, agreed in principle to revive the deal without the US, to be known as TPP-11, or Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the TPP.

Not on the agenda


After further discussion between officials, the 11 leaders met to ratify what everyone believed was a certainty but Mr Trudeau failed to show up after telling Japan's Shinzo Abe that Canada was not ready to sign. Domestic political considerations and Canada's renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement were the stated factors behind the decision, which embarrassed and angered fellow leaders and humiliated Mr Champagne.

"Sure, if you were worried about NAFTA and other domestic issues, flag it during the process. But pulling out at the last second seems quite out there," said the senior official.

The EAS comprises the 10 ASEAN Nations plus Australia, New Zealand, Japan ,China, India, South Korea, the US and Russia, and the appetite among the nations for Canada to join was already low because they are unconvinced of Mr Trudeau's commitment to serious long-term strategy and defence.

"Under Trudeau, Canada has increased its advocacy to join the EAS but adding Canada is not on the EAS agenda. This is an ASEAN-led forum so the disinterest is across the region," said a source.

"The EAS is considered a strategic and security forum, focused on practical measures to improve regional co-operation and certainty, not just rhetoric."At a time of global uncertainty and conflict it is notable that the regional countries are focused on the need to maintain US involvement in the region but do not seem to consider Canada adding substance to the group."

Economist and former senior Treasury official Mike Callaghan welcomed the fact that at least the trade minsters agreed after the setback to salvage the talks and try again to have the leaders reach agreement.

"Regardless of Trudeau's motives, Canada has certainly taken the momentum out of the TPP process. The clear signal is that some tough negotiations are still to come, with no timetable for their resolution. No one will take Canada for granted when it comes to trade deals," Mr Callaghan wrote for the Lowy Institute's publication, The Interpreter.

"With a backlash against globalisation and Trump's repudiation of future US involvement in multilateral agreements, it is important the TPP proceed.

"Successfully concluding the TPP in this environment would keep the flame alive for global trade agreements and liberalisation.

"Had the 11 leaders left Da Nang with no effort to resolve differences, this would have been a body blow for multilateral and mega-regional trade agreements, particularly ambitious ones. Trump's endorsement of bilateral trade deals as the only way to proceed would have been vindicated. It will be a long time before the world gets another shot at a trade deal like the TPP."