US President Joe Biden on Monday signed into law a bill that approves the first agreement negotiated under a bilateral trade initiative between Taiwan and the US, the White House said in a statement.
The United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act took effect immediately after Biden signed it, the statement said.
After a year of negotiations, Representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and American Institute in Taiwan Managing Director Ingrid Larson on June 1 signed an initial agreement under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade in Washington.
Photo: AP
The first agreement, which does not cover tariff reductions or exemptions, covers general principles related to customs and border procedures, regulatory practices and anti-corruption practices.
It is hoped that the principles will facilitate bilateral trade and investment flows in part by minimizing border formalities, setting standards for the regulation of domestic services, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.
On June 9, US Senate Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Ron Wyden and US House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith proposed the bill backing the first agreement under the trade initiative.
The legislation requires the US president to report to the US Congress on how the first agreement with Taiwan would enhance Taiwan-US trade relations and advance the interests of US workers, consumers, enterprises and farmers.
The president must also certify in writing to Congress within 30 days of the agreement entering into force that Taiwan has taken the necessary measures to comply with the terms of the agreement.
The bill requires US officials to ensure that any additional agreements with Taiwan be made transparently and in full consultation with Congress.
In the White House statement, Biden voiced concern over a portion of the law.
In cases where the requirements of Section 7 of the act, which require the transmission of trade deal drafts to Congress, would “impermissibly infringe upon my constitutional authority to negotiate with a foreign partner, my administration will treat them as nonbinding,” he said.
The bill, which the Senate passed on July 18, cleared the House on June 21 and was then sent to the president on July 27 to be signed into law within 10 days after being signed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS