The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that Prime Minister Mark Carney should spend more time in Asia to secure energy trade deals, says Tokyo-based academic Kazuto Suzuki. The Globe's Emma Graney writes that Canada's trade tensions with the United States have prompted Mr. Carney to seek closer ties with Europe. Recently, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to be the European Union's first "associate member" and Mr. Carney proposed a new alliance ahead of the upcoming meeting in Montreal. Dr. Suzuki said he understands why trade spats with the U.S. are pushing Mr. Carney closer to the EU. He said: "If being an associate member opens the door for the EU, then probably that's the right strategy. But the more dynamic economy is in Asia." With Europe growing more protectionist, "Canada's future is in Asia," he said. Japan typically relies on the Middle East for 95 per cent of its crude imports. Japanese investors and companies are, as a result, interested in Canadian supplies and the proposed Pacific Link oil pipeline project, Dr. Suzuki said. The conduit, which is backed in part by Pembina Pipeline, would transport a million barrels a day from Alberta to the West Coast.