Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen calls for resumption of TIFA talks with US as tensions rise with Beijing

With relations between Taipei and Washington at their best for 40 years, time is ripe to restart trade negotiations under Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, leader says

But Washington unlikely to agree to Tsai’s proposal unless island lifts its ban on American beef and pork, analyst says

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Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen is keen to get trade talks with the US back on track. Photo: CNA

Published: 8:03pm, 17 Oct 2019Updated: 11:16pm, 17 Oct 2019

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has appealed to the US to resume regular talks under the umbrella of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) as the self-ruled island seeks to reduce its economic dependence on the Chinese mainland amid worsening relations.

According to a statement released on Thursday by the presidential office, Tsai made the appeal on Wednesday during a meeting with James Moriarty, the United States’ de facto ambassador to Taiwan, in which she said relations between the two sides were at their best for 40 years.

“We hope with such a good foundation our two sides can swiftly [restart the] talks … to promote trade development,” she was quoted as saying.

Relations between Taiwan and the US have improved significantly since Tsai was elected president in 2016 and refused to accept the ”one country, two systems” model proposed by Beijing choosing instead to join Washington’s security alliance in countering Beijing’s military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region.

Last month, a high-powered delegation from Taiwan signed a deal in the US to buy US$3.7 billion worth of agricultural products over the next two years. Tsai said the agreement was indicative of the goodwill the island felt towards the world’s largest economy.