Free-trade pact considered

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is to complete its report on the economic impact on the US economy of signing a free-trade agreement (FTA) between Taipei and Washington no later than Oct. 17, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. Following the request by the US Senate Committee on Finance in a letter received by the commission on Jan. 17, the ITC has begun a fact-finding investigation on the possibility of forging a FTA between the US and Taiwan. The commission on May 13 held a public hearing on the issue in Washington, attended by Taipei's de facto ambassador to the US Chen Chien-jen (程建人) and experts from academia and the private sector. The foreign ministry's assertion that the report will be completed by Oct. 17 tallies with an ITC press release issued on Feb. 6.