Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave his strongest indication yet that he will ratify the Trans Pacific Partnership, as Canada’s free-trade deal with the European Union faces collapse. The 12-nation Pacific Rim deal was reached during the Canadian election campaign last year, weeks before Trudeau took power, and he has neither formally endorsed nor rejected it as his government consults on the accord. Speaking Tuesday, however, he signaled Canada was unlikely to reject a deal that includes the U.S., Japan and Mexico. “It’s difficult to imagine a world where Canada would turn its back on three of its top five trading partners,” Trudeau said at a youth labor summit in Ottawa, where he was interrupted by anti-trade protesters. “We established very clearly during the campaign that we’re a pro-trade party.” His pledge comes as the pact with Europe, known as CETA, hangs in limbo. Canada walked out of talks Friday aimed at appeasing Belgium—the sole holdout in endorsing the deal that requires unanimous approval from EU member states—and called on the Europeans to resolve the issue in time it to be signed by Trudeau Thursday in Brussels. EU leaders maintain the deal isn’t dead but said weeks of consideration are still needed. The TPP is opposed by both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, making its fate unclear. Canada and the other participating nations signed the deal earlier this year but have two years to ratify it, as governments around the world face rising protectionist sentiment that fed the Brexit vote and imperiled CETA. Trudeau acknowledged the sentiment Tuesday, saying “people do not feel that trade is working for them.” The remark drew heckling from an unidentified protester, who yelled that the sentiment is a reality.