[Epoch Times, June 11, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Li Yixin reported from Taipei, Taiwan) On the evening of the 10th, Taiwan time, Deng Zhenzhong, the Executive Council Member and Chief Negotiator of the Office of Economic and Trade Negotiations, and Katherine Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative, represented Taiwan. ) In a high-level video conference on Taiwan-US trade, the two sides agreed to restart the Taiwan-US “Trade and Investment Framework Agreement” (TIFA) talks in the next few weeks. Tsai Ing-wen said in a Facebook post on the 11th that TIFA is a platform for Taiwan and the United States to discuss important economic and trade issues. This is “true friends and real progress” and the government will continue to promote cooperation with the United States.
Tsai Ing-wen said that the relationship between Taiwan and the United States is close and friendly. TIFA is a platform for both sides to discuss important economic and trade issues. It is great to see that the dialogue with the United States has further developed, and relevant government departments will definitely be prepared for this. Tsai Ing-wen pointed out that recently seeing the U.S. government’s announcement of the provision of vaccines and U.S. congressmen’s visit to Taiwan, even the joint statement by the leaders of the United States, Japan, and the United States and South Korea mentioned the need to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. This is a “true friend, true progress,” and the government will continue to promote cooperation with the United States.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that the working class of Taiwan and the United States have continued to contact each other. The Ministry will cooperate with the Economic and Trade Negotiation Office of the Executive Yuan to communicate with the United States, and is cautiously optimistic about the convening of TIFA. I also hope that the United States will agree to convene as soon as possible to discuss trade issues of mutual concern, and then gradually promote the signing of the Taiwan-US BTA (Bilateral Trade Agreement).
Scholar: TIFA’s resumption of talks is very important
Associate Professor Shen Rongqin of York University in Canada said in a Facebook post on the 9th that Taiwan has already signed free trade agreements (FTA) with 11 countries including Panama, Guatemala, Singapore and New Zealand. Even with the addition of the ECFA with China, it is still Lack of the most important United States and the secondary European Union and Japan, therefore, the TIFA between the United States and Taiwan, although not an FTA, is still very critical to Taiwan. Especially in the face of being unable to join the CCP-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP) that has not yet joined, it is even more important to resume talks with the United States on TIFA at this moment.
Shen Rongqin pointed out that since 1995, Taiwan and the United States have undergone ten negotiations since the first negotiations between Taiwan’s International Trade Director Lin Yifu and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Assistant Trade Representative Robert Cassidy. The last time was in 2016 under the then Ministry of Economic Affairs. Long Wang Meihua negotiated with USTR Deputy Representative Robert Holleyman. However, Robert Lighthizer, the trade representative under Trump (Trump), was unwilling to advance because he was worried about affecting the trade negotiations between the United States and China. After Biden took office, Dai Qi finally took over.
“The other reason is the gift of imported American pigs.” Shen Rongqin explained that although the Kuomintang and the People’s Party tried their best to rebound, the Kuomintang made a referendum against the Lai pigs and not the Lai Niu, and the People’s Party cyber army and the CCP cyber army attacked with all their strength. However, with the insistence of the ruling party in Taiwan, the obstacles to the negotiations between Taiwan and the United States were finally removed. I hope that in the next referendum, the people of Taiwan will not be affected by the blue, white and red, and make a wise decision.
Shen Rongqin mentioned that the CCP expressed strong concerns and protests about the resumption of the TIFA talks between Taiwan and the United States. The main reason is that in Taiwan’s global economic and trade layout, the ruling party is strongly pushing to join the CPTPP. Although Singapore that has signed the FTA belongs to ASEAN, and New Zealand belongs to CANZUK, the influence of the two countries is not large, and the rest have signed FTAs. The size of the country is also limited. Therefore, resuming TIFA talks with the United States is critical to Taiwan’s global economic and trade status.
He believes that if the Taiwan-U.S. FTA (or BTA) can be reached in the end, it may encourage Britain, Canada, or certain EU countries to negotiate with Taiwan, and with the possibility of joining the CPTPP in the future, Taiwan can reduce its dependence on China. Achieve a more balanced position in global economy and trade.
Editor in charge: Lumeiqi#
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