TAIPEI, Taiwan – The United States and Taiwan resumed trade negotiations on Wednesday (June 30) after a five-year hiatus, as Washington seeks to strengthen ties with the island over China’s concerns. The talks restarted when the two sides reconvened the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council, which was in charge of seeking ways to enhance business relations under former US President Barack Obama.
The council last met in 2016, just before Donald Trump’s election, when he shifted gears and concentrated on achieving a mega-deal with China, despite the fact that relations between Washington and Beijing had dramatically worsened by the conclusion of his tumultuous term.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative said the talks on Wednesday “focused on improving the historic trade and investment relationship between the United States and Taiwan.”
They were co-led by key trade officials from Washington and Taipei and were held virtually.
Beijing sees Taiwan, which is self-governing and democratic, as a region that should be conquered one day, by force if necessary, and there have been growing concerns in the US that China is becoming more inclined to use its military strength.
President Joe Biden has pushed to improve ties with Taipei, notably by rewriting the complicated procedures that have prevented direct US trade with Taiwan since Washington shifted allegiance to Beijing in 1979.
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