The US issued its first batch of tariff notification letters yesterday, although Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) today confirmed Taiwan has yet to receive one.
Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) and Minister Without Portfolio Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮), who leads the Executive Yuan's Office of Trade Negotiations, are currently in the US negotiating on the tariff issue, the Executive Yuan said today.
In April, the US announced a 32-percent tariff in Taiwan, although it later announced a 90-day postponement period to negotiate a trade agreement.
Photo: Reuters
Fourteen countries, most notably Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, received letters notifying them of new tariff rates starting on Aug. 1, with the threat that retaliatory tariffs would lead to even higher rates.
Tariff rates for South Korea, Japan and Malaysia were set at 25 percent, 32 percent for Indonesia and 36 percent for Thailand.
An anonymous source said that the high tariff rates for this first group of countries are examples of negotiations stalling, failing or having been deemed unnecessary to continue.
The US has reportedly indicated that negotiations with Taiwan are progressing positively, the source said.
In a statement issued today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Taiwan and the US are currently engaged in discussions on tariffs and that the country continues to seek the best outcome in negotiations.
Developments would be announced to the public when available, the ministry said.
The Presidential Office today said that President William Lai (賴清德) had a video call with the negotiating team late last night.
In a 50-minute call, Lai expressed his gratitude for their months of work on trade discussions, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said.
Lai emphasized that Taiwan has always sought to maintain positive relations with the US based off mutual benefit and has hope the negotiations would both balance trade and strengthen cooperation between the two countries, Kuo said.
The core mission of Taiwan’s negotiators is to safeguard national interests, public health and food security, Lai told them, Kuo said.
Taiwan’s exclusion could be an indication of positive developments in ongoing discussions between Taiwan and the US, political pundit and former Taiwan People's Party member Grace Woo (吳靜怡) said today in a Facebook post.
Hopefully, lawmakers in the Legislative Yuan understand the importance of strengthening US-Taiwan relations, Woo said, adding that Taiwan’s status as a democratic partner should help it ensure it is not “punished.”
Additional reporting by Huang Ching-hsuan and Chung Li-hua
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