TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Friday (May 17) asked a visiting delegation of lawmakers from Canada to assist Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as their country chaired the trade bloc this year.
Taiwan first applied in September 2021, just days after China, causing fears that Beijing might interfere. The United Kingdom saw its application to become the 12th member approved in 2023, leading to expectations the CPTPP would deal with Taiwan this year.
Tsai said she hoped Canada would support Taiwan’s case in order to strengthen the resilience of global supply chains, per Radio Taiwan International (RTI). Delegation leader Judy Sgro hoped for closer cooperation, adding that upon their return to Canada, they would call on the government to support Taiwan’s CPTPP application.
As the chair of the Canadian Parliament’s Standing Committee on International Trade, Sgro marked the importance of the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) signed last year and of Taiwan allowing the import of Canadian beef. She said she hoped she could visit Taiwan again to celebrate the signing of the country’s entry into the CPTPP.
The Canadian delegation is visiting Taiwan to attend the inauguration of Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) on Monday (May 20).
