TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) urged Canada to back Taiwan’s ascension to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in a meeting with Canada Representative Jim Nickel on Thursday (March 28).

Han said he hoped Canada could help convey Taiwan’s aspirations to all member countries, to jointly promote progress and prosperity across the Asia-Pacific region. He noted Taiwanese have a favorable impression of Canada and its citizens.

Trade between Taiwan and Canada is close, the legislative speaker said, with trade volume surpassing NT$283.63 billion (CAD$12 billion) in 2023. The two countries also signed the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) last year, he said.

Nickel said was deeply impressed by the warm and open-minded nature of the Taiwanese and that the strong Taiwan-Canada friendship was based on shared democratic values. In recent years, the two countries have deepened cooperation in trade, technology, investment, and other fields. The representative said he hoped that through FIPA, more Taiwanese would be encouraged to invest in Canada and vice versa.

Additionally, Nickel pointed out that Canada is currently negotiating a Framework on Supply Chain Resilience with Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs. The representative said he was pleased with these developments, recognizing Taiwan's sound economic system as a model for promoting free trade. 

Canada welcomes Taiwan's application to join the CPTPP and anticipates that its accession will help promote free, fair, and rules-based trade in the Indo-Pacific region, Nickel said.