High-level trade talks between Taiwan and the US are expected to be held early next year in an attempt to iron out a string of trade conflicts between the two countries, a senior US trade official said in Washington on Friday.
Assistant US Trade Representative for China Affairs Timothy Stratford said that the two governments are now trying to put together an agenda for the talks, which would be the annual session of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries.
But, in an address to a luncheon of the Board of Directors of the US-Taiwan Business Council, Stratford cautioned that there are still a number of issues that are causing trade friction between Taipei and Washington, and indicated that they may not be resolved during next year's talks.
"There are things in the relationship that need a lot of work," he said.
Stratford, who assumed his post only two months ago but has worked extensively on US-China trade disputes, highlighted the dispute over Taiwan's ban on US beef as a particular irritation in Washington's eyes.
Describing the situation as "tense," Stratford claimed that the US "has provided to Taiwan all the necessary information ... that they need to see that US beef is safe and could be welcomed by consumers in Taiwan."
A lifting of the ban, "would be very helpful in supporting our trade relationships," he said.
Regarding the dispute over Taiwan's violations of rules governing the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), Stratford said "there is still much to be done [by Taiwan] to assure the protection of IPR."
In the wake of Taiwan's accession to the WTO in 2000, Washington placed Taiwan on its "priority watch list" of the world's worst IPR violators.
But noting "significant progress" in the nation's efforts to fight piracy, the US office put Taiwan on a less severe "watch list" category last January.
Stratford would not say whether Taiwan is now any closer to being removed completely from the watch list.
In the telecommunications area, Stratford said, "the picture is not entirely clear to us."
He took exception to an announcement by Premier Frank Hsieh (
"I don't understand why the premier would announce a rate cut for a truly privatized company," Stratford said.
Stratford also took Taiwan to task for its stance on agriculture in advance of the international trade talks on the so-called Doha Round, to be held in Hong Kong later this month.
He said that Taiwan has been "holding back quite a bit" about its stance on the agricultural issue, which has been a major drag on international efforts to expand global trade.
"Taiwan has not been all that helpful, so we seek more work on that," he said.
On prospects for a free-trade agreement (FTA) between the US and Taiwan, Stratford appeared to leave little hope that an agreement is possible.
He faulted Taiwan's less-than-helpful position toward the promotion of the global trade agenda in such arenas as the Doha Round, and a lack of support within the US for such an FTA.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS