Kaohsiung: Taiwan’s Port of Kaohsiung and Canada’s Port of Nanaimo formalized a sister port relationship on Monday during the Pacific Ports Conference held in Canada, as announced by the Taiwan International Ports Corp. (TIPC). This new partnership marks the Port of Nanaimo as Taiwan’s third sister port in Canada, following the Port of Vancouver and Fraser River Port.

According to Focus Taiwan, the signing ceremony was attended by several key figures, including TIPC President Wang Chin-jung, Kaohsiung Port Branch Harbor Master Chen Tsu-chiang, Port of Nanaimo Board Chair Donna Hais, and Port of Nanaimo CEO Ian Marr. Wang, who took on the role of president of the Taiwanese state-owned company in 2024, expressed optimism about the sister-port relationship, emphasizing its potential to benefit both ports significantly. He cited the longstanding relationship with the Port of Vancouver, initiated in 1993, as a successful precedent that has facilitated beneficial exchanges in technology and management for Taiwanese shippers like Evergreen Marine Corp. and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.

A prominent topic at the conference was the U.S.-initiated tariff war. According to Wang, the tariffs are projected to reduce TIPC’s cargo volume by approximately 500,000 to 550,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), accounting for about 3.8 percent of the total. Despite these challenges, Wang highlighted Taiwan’s robust economic position and the competitive strength of its ports.

Additionally, it was announced that the Port of Taichung will host the 2032 annual meeting, following the Port of Kaohsiung in 2024. Angel Liu, Director-General of the Vancouver Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, remarked that this decision underscores Taiwan’s commitment to deepening international exchanges and showcasing its influence in the global port sector.