Taiwan and the EU held their second Trade and Investment Dialogue on Friday, during which they discussed priority sectors, from offshore wind farms and agriculture to digital trade and trade and investment security.
During the virtual talks, negotiators discussed their regions’ respective transitions to renewable energy sources, carbon pricing initiatives and trade-related climate measures, the office of the EU Directorate-General for Trade said in a statement.
Both sides agreed to discuss digital trade facilitation measures such as electronic invoicing and e-signatures, with the aim of lowering transaction costs and increasing economic efficiency for Taiwanese and EU businesses, it said.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
They are also to continue their cooperation in aligning their sanctions against Russia and preventing their circumvention, the statement said.
The EU discussed its concerns related to how much access its member states’ agricultural exports have to Taiwan’s market, and the localization requirements in the offshore wind and electronic mobility sectors, the statement said.
Both sides spoke positively about the technical exchanges that have taken place since the first dialogue last year on semiconductors, research and innovation, foreign direct investment screening and export controls, the statement said.
They also agreed to pursue their engagement in these areas, it added.
The talks were cochaired by Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) and EU Directorate-General for Trade Director-General Sabine Weyand.
Taiwan is an important economic partner for the EU, with total trade reaching a record 84.2 billion euros (US$93.1 billion) last year, the statement said.
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