IT was unexpected. It was a snub.

The damage had been done but after a quick powwow among Trans-Pacific Partnership countries in Danang, the free trade deal among 11 countries is back on track.

Hardly 24 hours before the announcement that the deal had been salvaged, Canada’s Justin Trudeau threw it into chaos.

He left 10 other TPP leaders surprised, shocked and angry.

These leaders included Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – whose country has been taking the lead to revive the deal after the United States under President Donald Trump withdrew.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was also at the venue when Abe announced that the leaders’ meeting could not go on because Trudeau was not attending.

It prompted Najib to remark to Malaysian officials present that the meeting was the shortest he ever attended.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who was with Najib at the meeting, later uploaded a photo of Najib and his team having coffee after the meeting was cancelled.

Those who were with the leaders said there was all-round disbelief when Abe announced the cancellation of the meeting.

On the sidelines: (From left) Malaysia’s chief negotiator Datuk Seri J. Jayasiri with Malaysian negotiators Burhan Irwan Cheong (lead negotiator for IPR) , Aidil Tupari (Petronas legal adviser) and K. Arunan (lead negotiator for SOE and competition policies) who stayed back in Danang to confirm the deal is on.

There was no explanation given and Vietnam’s President Tran Di Quang, who hosted the meeting, “almost stormed” out of the venue.

When The Star met an official after the meeting, he was in a daze and tried to figure out what had happened.

“This is totally unexpected because Canada did not give any indication they were having problems with TPP-11.”

Another negotiator’s immediate reaction was: “This is crazy. This is a nightmare.”

A few hours after the cancellation, a message was sent to partner countries that the ministers would meet at 5pm.

Negotiators had been ready to pack and go home. They were still confused as to why the meeting was called at the last minute.

“Everybody is curious to know and listen to what Canadian Trade Minister Francois Champagne has to say,” said an official.

It is understood the meeting was quite tense and went on for five hours with mostly Japan and Canada arguing on the language in a statement to be released by the ministers.

Eventually, all countries decided to come on board and a press conference was held yesterday morning by Japanese Economic Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Vietnam Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh.

So the deal is back on and much work needs to be done in the next few months.

As for Trudeau, he decided to break his silence after more than 24 hours, telling the international media he was interested in creating opportunities to create better multilateral trade deals, including the TPP-11.

For sure, some countries are still angry with his antics.

One Malaysian official said a country can use whatever strategy in any negotiation.

“But it is important to show your integrity and do not move the goal post within a few hours after you have agreed to conclude the agreement.”

A senior Malaysian official said Trudeau had lost brownie points with other TPP-11 leaders.

It will take time to earn their trust again.