Officials from Taiwan and the US held their first day of free-trade talks yesterday, with the discussion focusing on rice imports and the opening of Taiwan's telecommunications market, the Board of Foreign Trade said in a press release.
The US delegation, led by Scott Ki, a US Trade Representative official charged with overseeing Taiwan affairs, also included officials from the State Department, Trademark Office, Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture and the American Institute in Taiwan.
Taiwanese representatives included officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Council of Agriculture, the Directorate General of Telecommunications, the Department of Health, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Assistant US Trade Representative Joseph Papovich will be arriving in Taiwan tomorrow and will engage Taiwanese officials in discussion on intellectual property rights on Friday.
Taiwan hopes the talks will culminate in the signing of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), signifying a free trade pact between Taiwan and the US.
In the first day of the three-day talks, US officials urged Taiwan to adjust its quota system on imported rice, in line with WTO standards.
US officials also expressed concerns over Taiwan's new rice-import system, which goes into effect next year, the statement said.
According to the Council of Agriculture, a ceiling for imported rice was set at around 144,700 tonnes last year. Under the WTO, Taiwan is required to renew its negotiations with other member states annually.
The council recently proposed maintaining the import quota at 144,700 tonnes annually -- imposing tariffs on any amount that exceeds that figure.
Further liberalization of the domestic telecommunications market will also be discussed. US representatives would like Taiwan to continue to open up its fixed-line market to foreign investors, the statement said.
US representatives also urged Taiwan to set up an independent authority to monitor telecommunications -- one that would be free from government interference.
Talks today will focus on the pharmaceutical industry.
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