US, Taiwan to resume in-person trade talks next week in Taipei
- Eleven topics have been highlighted for continuing discussion, after the delegations met in November in New York
- Hopes are expressed that an agreement might be reached by the end of the year
The United States will send a delegation to Taiwan next week to continue talks on a bilateral trade framework that is part of efforts to reduce US economic dependence on China.
Terry McCartin, assistant US trade representative for China affairs, will lead a group of trade officials and representatives from other US agencies to Taipei from January 14-17 for negotiations on the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, the Office of the US Trade Representative announced on Wednesday.
The trip – a rare visit of US executive branch officials to Taiwan since President Joe Biden took office – will mark the second round of face-to-face talks on the trade initiative and the first held on the island. Washington and Taipei agreed to the talks in June.
Taiwan and the United States do not have formal diplomatic relations so the negotiations will take place under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington’s de facto embassy on the self-ruled island, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington.
Yang Jen-ni, Taiwan’s deputy trade representative, will lead a negotiating team that includes officials from more than a dozen departments, according to the Taiwanese government.