December 22, 2010
Taiwan, US to resume trade talks after three-year hiatus
TAIPEI : The United States is scheduled to resume talks with Taiwan on a trade pact three years after they stalled over the island's ban on US beef imports.
The talks on the proposed pact, called the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), "can be resumed next month", Taiwan's deputy foreign minister Shen Lyu-hsun told parliament.
The talks went into limbo in 2007 over Taiwan's ban on imports of US beef-on-the-bone amid fears over mad cow disease.
Taiwan moved in late 2009 to resume imports of US beef-on-the-bone, cow organs and minced beef but partially overturned the decision following to a public outcry, which caused another delay in the talks.
A delegation from the US Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce visited Taipei in September to discuss resuming the talks, according to a statement by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - Washington's de facto representative office in Taipei.
Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou has said he hopes the talks will lead to the signing of a comprehensive free-trade agreement, but observers say Washington is unlikely to forge such a deal soon, claiming that Taiwan is not ready.
AFP
Taiwan, US to resume trade talks after three-year hiatus
TAIPEI : The United States is scheduled to resume talks with Taiwan on a trade pact three years after they stalled over the island's ban on US beef imports.
The talks on the proposed pact, called the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), "can be resumed next month", Taiwan's deputy foreign minister Shen Lyu-hsun told parliament.
The talks went into limbo in 2007 over Taiwan's ban on imports of US beef-on-the-bone amid fears over mad cow disease.
Taiwan moved in late 2009 to resume imports of US beef-on-the-bone, cow organs and minced beef but partially overturned the decision following to a public outcry, which caused another delay in the talks.
A delegation from the US Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce visited Taipei in September to discuss resuming the talks, according to a statement by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - Washington's de facto representative office in Taipei.
Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou has said he hopes the talks will lead to the signing of a comprehensive free-trade agreement, but observers say Washington is unlikely to forge such a deal soon, claiming that Taiwan is not ready.
AFP
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