CANADA-Trade Ministers Confirm Negotiations On Investment Deal To Start

MNI (London)-Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng and the Taiwanese minister responsible for trade negotiations John Deng held a call on 7 February, after which it was confirmed that Taiwan and Canada would begin formal talks on the establishment of a deal to encourage foreign investment. For Ottawa, this risks blowback from China, which views Taiwan as its sovereign territory.

• The Canadian Trade Ministry released a statement confirming the two ministers discussed trade, with Ng saying that "By beginning formal negotiations with Taiwan towards a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Arrangement, we are working to secure new opportunities for investment to support sustainable growth, establish new collaborations, and ensure good, well-paying jobs,"
• Relations between China and Canada remain somewhat frosty following the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou by Canadian authorities in 2018 and the subsequent arrest of two Canadian citizens accused of spying for China (all three were released in 2021).