Canada’s top diplomat said she aims to finalize a free trade agreement with Southeast Asian nations “as soon as possible,” as the country looks to expand economic ties in the face of tariffs from President Donald Trump.

In announcing new tariffs on Canadian goods and throwing yet another wrench into the country’s most important economic relationship, Mr. Trump exemplified why Ottawa has been scrambling to find new trading partners in order to reduce Canada’s reliance on its neighbour to the south.

Southeast Asia's biggest economies prepared on Tuesday to step up trade negotiations with Washington after it hit them with steep tariffs, despite a last-ditch flurry of offers to boost imports and slash levies on U.