Rich, Canada, along with mexico and Australia,  joined the TPP talks in 2008, all pressing for an agreement on several  occasions. I worked in Malaysia and Singapore at the time. This move was welcomed by Asian partners. With the US withdrawal from TPP, Canada was quite openly embraced as a leading voice in the talks.  

Asian business implores the cultural mantra of 'save face'.  A no-show is an insult, even if no malice was intended by Trudeau.