US says Taiwan trade talks on track as Yu seeks FTA

Washington has expressed its satisfaction with the progress of its Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks with Taiwan and expects a quick start to the next round of talks, a Taiwan official said Thursday.

Taiwan and the US last held talks July 21 to negotiate issues relating to intellectual property rights, pharmaceuticals, rice and telecommunications after the talks had been suspended for more than a year.

William Brown, acting chairman and managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, relayed Washington's position on the TIFA talks during a meeting with Premier Yu Shyi-kun, according to Government Information Office Director-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍).

Yu and his entourage were making a transit stop in Los Angeles en route to the Dominican Republic for the inauguration of president-elect Leonel Fernandez.

Ahead of a dinner with Taiwanese expatriates in Los Angeles, Yu called on the US to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Taiwan soon.

Yu also said that many countries are taking the US as their guide while negotiating FTAs with Taiwan.

On FTA talks recently conducted between Taiwan and Paraguay, Yu said it is unlikely for the two sides to sign the agreement before Paraguay obtains permission to do so from the Southern Common Market, an organization formed by six South American nations, including Paraguay.

Therefore, as an alternative to a Free Trade Agreement, Taiwan may instead choose to sign a Closer Economic Partnership Agreement with Paraguay, Yu said.