Taiwan is pushing to deepen business links with US and Canadian states and provinces, a modest but positive step for its economic diplomacy as it works to lock in Western partners.

• Taiwan's deputy foreign minister Chen Ming-chi hosted a visiting group of US and Canadian leaders and urged their local governments to open offices in Taiwan.
• The pitch: more trade, investment, and education exchanges, plus deeper work together on AI, digital tech, and high-tech supply chains.
• Taiwan is framing itself as a key link in a "democratic supply chain," not just a geopolitical flashpoint — a message aimed squarely at North American partners.
• A senior aide to Washington State's governor and a Nova Scotia tech industry head co-led the trip, showing the effort is aimed at state and provincial level, not just Washington DC.

Outlook: Expect Taiwan to keep courting individual US states and Canadian provinces with trade missions and trade-show invitations, building friendly ties that sidestep the limits on formal diplomacy.