Canada-Tonga relations
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Bilateral relations
Canada enjoys pleasant bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Tonga, enhanced by memberships in international organizations such as the Commonwealth, United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Health Organization.
Canada and Tonga share interests with respect to fisheries management and are both parties to the United Nations Fish Stock Agreement. Canada is also a dialogue partner of the Pacific Islands Forum to which Tonga belongs.
In Tonga, Canada is represented by the High Commission of Canada in New Zealand. Tonga is represented in Canada by the Permanent Representative of Tonga to the United Nations in New York. About 120 people who live in Canada are born in Tonga according to the 2021 Canadian census.
Trade relations
Canada’s trade relations with Tonga are managed by the Trade Commissioner Service, New Zealand. Canada has limited trade relations with Tonga. In 2022, two-way trade totalled $669,469. Canadian merchandise exports amounted to $265,057, comprising mainly machinery parts, while imports amounted to $404,412 and were mostly of fruits.
Development
Canada supports small and community-focused projects in Tonga through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). Canada has contributed over $1.1 million to organizations implementing a total of 28 CFLI projects in Tonga over the 2012 to 2023 period.
Tonga has also been a beneficiary of the following projects in the Pacific Islands region:
The Kiwa Initiative (2020 to 2026) is a $79 million multi-donor Pan-Pacific regional initiative funded by Canada, France, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand. Since March 2020, Canada has contributed a total of $16 million to the Kiwa initiative through a Contribution Arrangement with the Agence française de développement (AFD). The Kiwa initiative strengthens capacities of local and national authorities and civil society organizations to design and implement small to large-scale biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation projects at local, national and regional levels through granting/funding facilities.
The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI) (2018 to 2023) is a project implemented by the World Bank, and to which Canada contributed $1.5 million. The PCRAFI seeks to provide the Pacific island countries with disaster risk assessment and financing tools, including sovereign insurance, for enhanced disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.
The Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) (2021 to 2023) is a project implemented by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and to which Canada contributed $9.5 million. It aims to support Pacific Small Island Developing States and others in securing and structuring finance for priority climate projects by cultivating a network of highly trained, embedded climate finance advisors.
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s (WCPFC) Special Requirements Fund has received contributions of $68,000 to $100,000 from Canada in recent years. It aims to support capacity-building among the members of the Commission such as Tonga.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Tonga work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- Commonwealth
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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