Taiwanese, US officials hold five-hour virtual economic dialogue

Supply chain resilience, science and technology, the digital economy and 5G were discussed in second annual meeting
Business advisory group to be established in bid to enhance economic and commercial ties between US and the self-ruled island

Taiwan

Kyodo

Published: 8:40pm, 23 Nov 2021

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Representatives from Taiwan and the US held their second annual economic dialogue on Tuesday, aimed at forging closer ties in the face of increasing pressure from Beijing towards the self-ruled island.

Economic affairs minister Wang Mei-hua, who led the Taiwanese delegation, said the five-hour virtual meeting focused on such issues as supply chain resilience, science and technology, digital economy and 5G network security, as well as Beijing’s economic coercion.

“The talks are a great way for bilateral cooperation on economic strategies,” she told a press conference after the US-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue (EPPD).

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Wang said the two sides agreed to promote supply chain security and cooperate on pharmaceuticals, health, clean energy and semiconductors amid a global chip crunch.

The meeting also discussed Beijing’s sanctions on Lithuania after the European country allowed Taiwan to open a representative office under its name in its capital. Wang said the US side supported Lithuania’s move and commended the European Union’s backing of the Baltic state.

The two sides agreed to hold their first in-person science and technology meeting, anticipated for next year in Taipei. They will also convene the fourth Digital Economy Forum in the middle of next year and establish a business advisory group to recommend ways to enhance economic and commercial ties between the two sides.

Like the inaugural EPPD held in November last year, this year’s meeting took place under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington’s de facto embassy in lieu of formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US.

Led by under secretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment Jose Fernandez, the US delegation included Rick Waters, deputy assistant secretary of state for China, Taiwan and Mongolia in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs.

The Taiwan delegation included science and technology minister Wu Tsung-tsong, Taiwan’s representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim and officials from foreign and health ministries, as well as the National Development Council.

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Trade talks between the two sides under a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement signed in 1994 have hit roadblocks since 2007 due to gaps on such issues as Taiwan’s restriction on imports of US meat containing traces of ractopamine, a leanness-enhancing additive approved for use in livestock in the United States.

After a five-year hiatus, Taiwan and the US resumed the high-level trade engagement on June 30 after the government of President Tsai Ing-wen, of the Democratic Progressive Party, relaxed restrictions on imports of US beef and pork.

However, the main opposition Nationalist Party or Kuomintang has initiated a referendum to prohibit the imports, which will be held on December 18.

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