OTTAWA – Conservative and Bloc Québécois Members of Parliament are urging the Liberal government to advance a trade cooperation framework with Taiwan after concerns were raised about a sudden halt in the process. Taiwan's envoy to Canada, Harry Tseng, indicated that the agreement had been ready for signing since April of the previous year, but delays remain. A senior Canadian diplomat highlighted that the decision on how to proceed with the agreement is currently with the cabinet, suggesting it is nearly ready for a signature.

Weldon Epp, assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs Canada and responsible for diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific, addressed the House foreign affairs committee, outlining that the government is assessing both the timing and the nature of moving forward with the agreement. He expressed confidence that decisions would be taken soon regarding the matter.

Tseng, who leads Taipei's Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, expressed suspicion that the Canadian government was delaying the agreement to foster better relations with mainland China, potentially at Taiwan's expense. Prime Minister Mark Carney previously stated that Canada could engage in trade with both Taiwan and China, reiterating the government's focus on strengthening trade relations with China.

Taiwan operates as a de facto autonomous island state, although it is viewed by the Chinese Communist Party as a breakaway province that needs to be reunified with mainland China. Canada adheres to a long-standing One China policy, recognizing Beijing as the sole representative of China while maintaining informal relations with Taiwan.

During a recent committee meeting, Bloc MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe criticized the government's apparent reluctance to sign the agreement. He pointed out that the framework does not pose any risk and suggested that the only reason for the hold-up is the desire to avoid antagonizing Beijing. Meanwhile, Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong emphasized that the Conservative Party is in favor of moving swiftly on the deal.

The House trade committee has also requested that the government clarify the anticipated timelines for ratifying the agreement and has invited International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu to provide testimony. A spokesperson for Sidhu's office indicated that progress on the deal is “highly advanced” and currently under examination by the minister, although no specific timeline for concluding the agreement was provided.

Epp clarified that the framework is not a treaty and therefore does not require parliamentary tabling; it is an agreement that builds upon existing arrangements, such as the foreign investment protection agreement between Canada and Taiwan. He noted that the framework presents an “important opportunity” to enhance access to various sectors of the Canadian economy.

Darren Smith, executive director of Indo-Pacific trade policy at Global Affairs, contributed to the negotiations and explained that the document aims to set the groundwork for more specific future agreements regarding areas like the green economy, artificial intelligence, and supply chain issues. He described the framework as establishing processes, architectural designs, and point of contacts for these future agreements.

In an interview last October, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand reaffirmed Canada’s One China policy in relation to Taiwan, stating that the government would prioritize the needs of Canadians while continuing to engage with Taiwan. Additionally, in a January interview, Chinese Ambassador to Canada Wang Di urged Canada to maintain its formal recognition of Beijing as China’s sole government while interacting with Taiwan. Wang indicated that although unofficial economic and people-to-people exchanges are acceptable, Canada should not utilize these interactions as a cover for official engagements.

Epp mentioned that Global Affairs is also following up on Anand’s directive to update the Indo-Pacific strategy introduced in 2022, signaling a shift in the government’s approach towards China and India under Prime Minister Carney’s leadership. However, the format of the update remains to be determined by the minister, whether through a document, speech, or other means.