Taiwan’s desire to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a common interest of Taiwan and the US, but the nation must meet certain standards before it gains entry, a US trade official said on Thursday.
“TPP, once closed, will be expansive and accommodate lots of countries going forward,” US Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Stefan Selig said at a news conference in Washington about the SelectUSA Investment Summit.
“From that respect, we have a commonality of interest and look forward to all countries doing those things that they need to do to be included in TPP in the future,” he said.
Asked if the US would help Taiwan join the next round of TPP negotiations, given Taipei’s enthusiasm for SelectUSA, Selig said the TPP negotiations and the SelectUSA program were two different things.
In his prepared statement to the news conference, he said there would be a “very impressive and important” Taiwanese delegation attending the two-day SelectUSA Investment Summit, which is scheduled to start on March 23 in Washington.
However, Selig said it was not for the US to decide who could take part in the TPP negotiations because there are 11 other partner nations.
Selig said the TPP agreement was being crafted in such a way that “it will accommodate other entrances who are willing to accept the highest standard agreements.”
So it would be possible for Taiwan to join the regional deal, but it was not included in the first closing of the TPP agreement, he said.
The Taiwanese delegation to the SelectUSA summit is to be headed by Taiwan External Trade Development Council Chairman Francis Liang (梁國新) and will include representatives from Powerchip Technology Corp, China Steel Corp, Formosa Plastics Group and several other companies.
US President Barack Obama established the SelectUSA program in 2011 to facilitate business investment into the US by helping investors get the answers and assistance they need. It falls under the auspices of the US Department of Commerce.
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