Taiwan’s representative in Canada says it is up to Ottawa to move forward on a stalled trade agreement between Taipei and Ottawa, after Conservative MPs pressed him Tuesday on whether the Carney government is deliberately delaying the deal. 

“The ball is in your court, it is for you to see whether you want to move on or what kind of obstacle you want to bring up for both sides to solve,” said Harry Tseng, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada at the House Committee on International Trade. 

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The Taiwan-Canada trade co-operation framework agreement has been ready for final signatures since April. When asked by Conservative MP Jacob Mantle if the feds are delaying it at the “behest of fear of China,” Tseng acknowledged other factors that played into the timing. 

“In 2025, there was a change of government in Canada, there was an election and many things that happened in the geopolitical landscape,” Tseng said. “I have the goodwill from the counterpart I work with in the federal government.” 

Taiwan, a self-governing island that China considers to be one of its provinces, is Canada’s 15th largest trading partner globally. 

The framework focuses on building and strengthening economic ties, including areas like digital trade, energy transition, semiconductor supply chains and critical minerals. 

During the committee meeting, the ambassador noted that existing trade figures do not fully capture Canada-Taiwan economic ties, because Canadian raw materials are frequently exported to intermediary markets for processing before being imported into the island. 

When asked by an MP if Taiwan would become a customer for Canada’s energy exports – that is if they’re able to increase export capacity both for crude oil and for liquefied natural gas – Tseng said “for sure.” 

“Now is a time when so many countries are looking for the reopening of the Straits of Hormuz, so energy is… hot in the market,” he said. “I would say that it is a commodity in the market, we will be very interested.” 

In April, several MPs questioned the framework’s hold up. Bloc MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe said the agreement doesn’t bring any risk and that the only “valid reason” is out of fear of upsetting Beijing. 

READ MORE: MPs question delay in Taiwan trade frameworks as diplomat says ball in cabinet’s court 

“The TCFA will provide an important institutional framework to facilitate trade, investment, regulatory cooperation and supply chain integration between our two nations,” Tseng said. 

The committee meeting comes a week after Conservative MP Michael Chong’s visit to Taiwan, after Beijing diplomats’ warnings against sending a parliamentarian delegation. 

Beijing’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also making his first visit to Canada in a decade this Thursday. 

The ministers will meet in Ottawa to “advance pragmatic engagement” and discuss the updated Canada-China Strategic Partnership.