Mr. Speaker, earlier this month the people of Taiwan went to the polls, and with a record 75% voter turnout, President Tsai was re-elected with nearly 60% of the popular vote. The election was a victory for all Taiwanese and demonstrates the robustness of Taiwan's democracy.
It is also a reminder of the strong links between Canada and Taiwan. With more than $7.9 billion in annual bilateral trade, Taiwan is Canada's 13th-largest trading partner. As Taiwan is one of the most dynamic economies in Asia, freer access to Taiwanese markets means new opportunities for Canadian businesses.
Now is the time to take the next step toward free trade with Taiwan. Now is the time to commence negotiations toward a foreign investment, promotion and protection agreement between Canada and Taiwan.