Taiwan is very willing to address farm product issues with other countries, but food safety remains the top priority when discussing these matters, Representative to the US Stanley Kao (高碩泰) said on Sunday.
“These individual issues should not be viewed as a premise for Taiwan and the United States to conduct negotiations on farm products,” Kao said at a news conference in Washington, adding that the Taiwanese government is transparent when handling such matters.
“The government will continue to negotiate with the US on the entry of US pork and beef to Taiwan in line with international practices, and devise management regulations based on scientific standards and basis,” he said.
Photo: CNA
Amid grave public concern and strong opposition, the Taiwanese government has maintained a ban on US pork products containing the leanness enhancing drug ractopamine since 2006.
However, the country relaxed its ban of the drug in US beef products in 2012 due to pressure from Washington.
The issue recently returned to the public eye again after the US reiterated in its 2018 Trade Policy Agenda and 2017 Annual Report that the ban remains an obstacle to the clinching of a free-trade agreement between the two countries.
Asked about potential impact from the US’ decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum products, Kao said that the government has been closely monitoring follow-up developments and would report to the WTO regarding certain products if necessary.
Communication channels between Taiwan and the US are smooth and Taiwan’s representative office in Washington would consult the US side to gain a deeper understanding of its overall trade and economic policy to assess any possible impact on Taiwan’s businesses and products, he said.
As to the passage of the Taiwan Travel Act by the US Senate, Kao called it a positive development and a friendly gesture.
He also expressed hope that a broader foundation and basis would be created for exchanges of visits by ranking officials between the two countries.
Asked whether any arrangements have been made to facilitate visits by Taiwanese ranking officials to the US, Kao said he has not received any such instruction, but added that it remains a goal for him to pursue.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it