Taipei:President Lai Ching-te has expressed his desire for advancement on the unsigned Taiwan-Canada Trade Cooperation Framework Arrangement (TCFA), emphasizing the importance of bolstering economic and industrial ties between the two nations.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lai made these remarks during a meeting with Canadian lawmakers at the Presidential Office. He urged support for the TCFA from the visiting delegation, which was led by Judy Sgro, a Liberal Party lawmaker and chair of the Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group and the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade.
The TCFA, designed to enhance trade and economic cooperation, remains unsigned despite its completion in March 2025. Global Affairs Canada noted in a September parliamentary response that the framework is still under consideration for signature but did not specify a timeline. Lai highlighted the complementary nature of Taiwan's semiconductor and ICT industries with Canada's strengths in AI, energy, and critical minerals, advocating for more extensive bilateral cooperation.
Lai also pointed out that Taiwan is Canada's sixth-largest trading partner in Asia, with bilateral merchandise trade reaching US$4.89 billion in 2025, a 5.6 percent increase from the previous year. He expressed hope for further collaboration to benefit both industries and citizens.
During the meeting, Lai expressed gratitude to Canadian lawmakers for their support, particularly referencing a parliamentary motion addressing China's interpretation of a UN resolution and the efforts of Sgro and the committee to advance the TCFA. Sgro, in her remarks, acknowledged the growing ties between Canada and Taiwan across various sectors, though she did not specifically mention the TCFA.
Sgro, visiting Taiwan for the sixth time, stated that the delegation's goal was to deepen parliamentary dialogue and gain a better understanding of the Indo-Pacific region, which she described as crucial to Canada's future prosperity and security. She reaffirmed Canada's friendship and partnership with Taiwan, assuring that "Canada will be standing next to Taiwan."