General News
7 May, 2026
Tehan joins delegation in Taiwan
MEMBER for Wannon Dan Tehan has jointly-led a cross-party Australian parliamentary delegation to Taiwan, which departed last week.
He is part of a five-day visit which continues four decades of parliamentary engagement aimed at strengthening the enduring partnership between Australia and Taiwan.
The mission will include high-level discussions with senior government leaders and ministerial officials and underscores a shared commitment to freedom, peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The focus will be on Australia’s growing cooperation with Taiwan across key sectors including energy, agriculture, critical minerals, advanced technology and education,” Mr Tehan said.
“Taiwan was Australia’s 12th largest two-way goods and services trading partner in 2024, with trade worth $30.6 billion.”
Mr Tehan said Australia and Taiwan have a well-established and complementary energy trade relationship.
“Australia’s major import from Taiwan is refined petroleum,” he said.
“We imported approximately $3.6 billion worth of refined petroleum from Taiwan in 2024.
“Australia on the other hand is a key supplier of coal and natural gas to Taiwan, helping to support electricity generation and industrial activity while also contributing to energy security through dependable long-term supply contracts.
“As Taiwan continues to diversify its energy mix to meet growing demand and strengthen system resilience, there is scope to further deepen cooperation on energy trade, investment and technology, reinforcing both economic ties and regional energy security.”
Taiwan’s limited land and natural resources mean it remains heavily reliant on imports, creating strong opportunities for Australian exporters.
Australia is a major supplier of iron ore, copper, beef, dairy and a range of food and beverage products to the Taiwanese market, which Mr Tehan said was a strength of south west communities.
“Wannon is a major agricultural and energy producing region, and our trading relationship with markets such as Taiwan is vital to its continued prosperity,” he said.
“Across Asia, many economies rely heavily on imports, and Australia is well placed to help meet this demand.
“Maintaining strong relationships with partners like Taiwan is essential to ensuring this trade continues to grow.”
This trip is fully funded by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia.