Next round of Taiwan-US trade talks begins

• By Kayleigh Madjar / Staff writer, with CNA

A new round of in-person negotiations over the US-Taiwan 21st Century Trade Initiative began on Monday in Taipei, focusing on cooperation in agriculture, labor and environmental protection.

Speaking to reporters before the talks began, Deputy Trade Representative Jenni Yang (楊珍妮), who is leading Taiwan’s side of the talks, said that the agenda would not be publicized.

However, the Taiwan side would do its best to export agricultural products to the US, she added when asked.

The current second phase of negotiations is focusing on issues involving agriculture, environment and labour, Yang said.

These are harder to reach a consensus than the first phase of talks, as the legal and practical aspects differ among countries, Yang said.

Asked whether the talks would touch on food security, as Food and Drug Administration Director-General Wu Shou-mei (吳秀梅) was present for the meeting, Yang said more details would be shared afterwards.

In June last year, the two sides signed the first pact under the initiative, agreeing on customs administration and trade facilitation, good regulatory practices, domestic regulation of services, combating corruption, and matters relating to small and medium-sized enterprises.

The agreement is still under review by both sides, but Yang said she expects it to be finalized in the first half of this year.

The first round of talks on the second phase of the agreement were held in August last year in Washington.

About 30 US representatives are in Taipei for the talks to last until Friday from agencies including the American Institute in Taiwan and the Office of the US Trade Representative, led by Assistant US Trade Representative for China, Mongolia and Taiwan Affairs Terry McCartin.

Taiwan is represented by about 50 officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, interior, economics, labour, agriculture, health, environment and more.