Taiwan and the US yesterday reached consensus on trade principles for the information and communication technology (ICT) service sector as well as international investments in the seventh Taiwan-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) meeting.
Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Bill Cho (卓士昭) and Deputy US Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis told a press conference that the two sides agreed to cooperate to enhance domestic regulatory capacity and support the expansion of ICT networks and services.
Under the joint statement on trade principles for the ICT service sector, Taiwan and the US agreed to share information and experience with each other on legislation, regulations and programs in areas relevant to promoting the ICT service sector.
Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times
A consensus was also reached on “political commitments” to ensure sustained bilateral trade and investment, with the two governments agreeing to create an open and non-discriminatory investment climate, and supporting a fair market in which state-run enterprises will not enjoy preferential treatment.
Cho said the principles for international investments are expected to enhance bilateral trade ties, create jobs, enhance economic growth and intensify promotion of a “Taiwan-US Investment Agreement.”
Marantis said the US recognized Taiwan has a strong interest in signing a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the US and joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed free-trade agreement aimed at liberalizing economies in the Asia-Pacific region and fostering international trade.
Taiwan cannot be “invited” unilaterally by the US to join the TPP, but must prove it can meet obligations affecting the interests of 12 current member economies including the US, he said.
Marantis also said the US had raised the issue of importing more US meat products to Taiwan, but did not win support from Taiwan’s representatives, because of the Taiwanese government and its citizens’ concerns that US meat products may contain residues of the livestock feed additive ractopamine.
“We understand this is a longstanding concern of Taiwanese, but we will continue promoting the trade of US meat products and proving the quality of our product is consistent with international standards,” he said.
The US representative avoided specifying that he was referring to pork, and talked about “meat products” throughout. Cho did not comment on the issue.
The two sides have agreed to schedule the eighth round of TIFA talks next year in Washington, Marantis said, adding that the US expects future talks to be an annual event.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs will establish two sections for talks under TIFA to negotiate with the US about solutions to technical barriers to trade and bilateral investment, Cho said.
He added that the government would seek further assistance from the US on access to the TPP and would liberalize laws and regulations to try to meet its requirements.
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
COVETED PRIZE: The US president would be a peace prize laureate should he persuade Xi Jinping to abandon military aggression against Taiwan, William Lai said US President Donald Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize should he be able to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to abandon the use of force against Taiwan, President William Lai (賴清德) told a conservative US radio show and podcast in an interview. The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer, despite the absence of formal ties, but since Trump took office earlier this year he has not announced any new arms sales to the nation. Trump could meet Xi at the APEC summit in South Korea on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Lai, speaking on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
A Chinese takeover of Taiwan would severely threaten the national security of the US, Japan, the Philippines and other nations, while global economic losses could reach US$10 trillion, National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) wrote in an article published yesterday in Foreign Affairs. “The future of Taiwan is not merely a regional concern; it is a test of whether the international order can withstand the pressure of authoritarian expansionism,” Lin wrote in the article titled “Taiwan’s Plan for Peace Through Strength — How Investments in Resilience Can Deter Beijing.” Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) intent to take Taiwan by force
RSS