The relative importance of Taiwan as a US trading partner has declined over the past 20 years, a new report by the US Congressional Research Service says.
This is especially true, it says, when compared with US trade with China.
The report, an overview of policy issues in US-Taiwan relations, says that “many observers” saw Taipei’s restriction on US beef as a major obstacle.
More than any other issue, beef is responsible for the freezing of talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), the forum used by Taiwan and the US to discuss economic issues.
TIFA talks have not been held since 2007.
Total US trade with Taiwan last year was US$67.2 billion, making Taiwan the 10th-largest US trading partner — down from sixth position in 1989.
“US trade with Taiwan has been relatively stagnant over the past 10 years,” the report says.
On the positive side, Taiwan has “greatly improved” its protection of intellectual property rights, although a number of problems remain, including “infringement of copyrighted material on the Internet,” it adds.
“The US has raised concerns over Taiwan’s barriers on certain agricultural products such as rice, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Taiwan’s use of sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures to block US beef sales to Taiwan are of particular concern to US officials,” the report says.
US officials charge that a bilateral protocol that provided for expanded market access for US beef and beef products in Taiwan has been “significantly undermined” by action taken by the Legislative Yuan, the report says.
Written by Shirley Kan, a specialist in Asian security affairs, and Wayne Morrison, a specialist in Asian trade and finance, the report concludes that both Washington and Taipei have put more efforts into relations with Beijing than they have with each other.
It predicts that further into President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) second term Beijing could increase pressure on Taiwan “in preparing for, if not pressing for, political and military negotiations.”
The report says that despite the pronouncements of “one China” by leaders in Taipei and Beijing and closer cross-strait ties, Taiwan’s people retain a strong Taiwan-centric identity.
“Taiwan’s people pragmatically have pursued prosperity, security and their democratic way of life and self-governance,” the report says.
It adds that Ma has said he places priority on the relationship with the US, but some observers say Taiwan needs to restore trust lost in the relationship and “reciprocate US efforts to strengthen it.”
Although Ma is chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), the report says, it has been a challenge for him to lead his administration and party “to resolve the dispute over US beef.”
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
RSS