Technical consultations for Taiwan-US trade talks have been “largely finalized” and document exchanges are under way, Taiwan’s delegation to the APEC summit in South Korea said yesterday, marking progress in the protracted discussions.
Taiwan’s exports to the US are subject to a 20 percent tariff and while negotiations to reduce the rate are ongoing, no final agreement has been reached.
Semiconductors are excluded from the tariffs.
Photo courtesy of the APEC Taiwan media group
Taiwan’s top negotiator, Minister Without Portfolio Jenni Yang (楊珍妮), met with US Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer on Thursday, the delegation said.
The two exchanged views on key topics such as ways to deepen economic and trade relations between Taiwan and the US, the delegation added.
“Technical consultations for the Taiwan-US reciprocal trade negotiations have been largely finalized, with document exchanges currently under way,” they said. “Both sides reviewed the progress and expressed their shared anticipation for deeper collaboration to promote industrial growth and economic development for Taiwan and the US.”
The US Office of the Trade Representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside of Washington office hours.
Taiwan, which dominates the production of advanced semiconductors powering the artificial intelligence boom, has rejected a proposal floated by US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick for a 50-50 split in making chips.
However, Taipei said it is considering forming a high-tech strategic partnership with Washington, which wants increased Taiwanese investment.
Taiwan, home to the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電), runs a large trade surplus with the US.
APEC is one of the few international forums in which Taiwan is able to participate. However, it does not send its president to the summit to avoid problems with Beijing and host nations, none of which have formal diplomatic ties with Taipei.
The summit also serves as a venue for Taiwanese and US officials to talk.
National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) also met with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Michael DeSombre, the delegation said.
“Both sides discussed the importance of the Taiwan-US partnership, particularly in the context of ensuring peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and furthering shared economic prosperity,” it added.
Separately, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) said that Taiwan-US negotiations over tariffs are ongoing and “building consensus” through document exchanges, aiming to finalize an agreement after the APEC meeting.
The negotiations have been focused on supply chain cooperation, seeking tariff reductions that do not stack on top of existing most-favored-nation rates and preferential treatment for more than 232 tariff items, as well as striving for more favorable conditions for Taiwanese companies investing in the US, Cheng added.
Additional reporting by Sam Garcia and CNA
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it is expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong this afternoon and a land warning tomorrow. As of 1pm, the storm was about 1,070km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, and was moving west-northwest at 28 to 32kph, according to CWA data. The storm had a radius of 250km, with maximum sustained winds of 173kph and gusts reaching 209kph, the CWA added. The storm is forecast to pass near Luzon in the Philippines before entering the South China Sea and potentially turning northward toward Taiwan, the CWA said. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said
PREPARATION: Ferry lines and flights were canceled ahead of only the second storm to hit the nation in November, while many areas canceled classes and work Authorities yesterday evacuated more than 3,000 people ahead of approaching Tropical Storm Fung-wong, which is expected to make landfall between Kaohsiung and Pingtung County this evening. Fung-wong was yesterday morning downgraded from a typhoon to a tropical storm as it approached the nation’s southwest coast, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, as it issued a land alert for the storm. The alert applies to residents in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Taitung counties, and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春). As of press time last night, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Yilan, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin, Pingtung and Penghu counties, as well as Chiayi city and county had
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued a sea alert for Typhoon Fung-wong (鳳凰) as it threatened vessels operating in waters off the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島), the Bashi Channel and south of the Taiwan Strait. A land alert is expected to be announced some time between late last night and early this morning, the CWA said. As of press time last night, Taoyuan, as well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties had declared today a typhoon day, canceling work and classes. Except for a few select districts in Taipei and New Taipei City, all other areas and city
VIOLATION OF NORMS: China’s CCTV broadcast claimed that Beijing could use Interpol to issue arrest warrants, which the MAC slammed as an affront to order The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday condemned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for attempts to intimidate Taiwanese through “transnational repression.” The council issued the remarks after state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) yesterday during a news broadcast aired a video targeting Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), threatening him with “cross-border repression” and saying: “Stop now, or you will be next,” in what Taipei officials said was an attempt to intimidate not only Shen, but also the broader Taiwanese public. The MAC in a statement condemned the threat, accusing Beijing of trying to instill fear and self-censorship among Taiwanese and
RSS