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John Deng, Taiwan’s chief trade negotiator, watches as he speaks to the press in Taipei, Taiwan, on January 22, 2021. Ann Wang/Reuters TAIPEI, June 30 (Reuters) – Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has vowed to On Wednesday, Taiwan’s main trade negotiator, John Deng, told the US that he believes the two countries can “gradually” progress toward a free trade agreement as they launched long-delayed discussions, a pact that would strengthen Washington’s support for Taipei. After former US President Barack Obama departed office in 2016, his successor Donald Trump’s trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, focused his attention on China, the world’s second-largest economy, the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, or TIFA, came to a halt. Deng noted in his opening remarks, as reported by Taiwan’s Cabinet, that TIFA could help each other’s economy flourish and create more jobs. “We hope that the two sides can continue to improve their cooperation through the TIFA platform and gradually work toward a free trade agreement,” he added. In the face of pressure from Beijing to establish its sovereignty, the Biden administration has moved to reassert its strong commitment to the democratically administered island. Taiwan has long sought a free trade pact with the US, though any such arrangement would certainly irritate Beijing, which claims the island is Chinese territory with no right to state-to-state interactions. The reopening of the TIFA discussions, according to Brent Christensen, the top US ambassador in Taiwan, is a “important piece of our reinvigorated engagement on trade.” “I am sure that today’s discussions will assist in putting the US-Taiwan economic relationship on the correct track for future collaboration and progress.” Assistant US Trade Representative Terry McCartin and Taiwan’s top diplomat in Washington, Hsiao Bi-Khim, were in attendance for the virtual meeting. Despite the fact that Taiwan is a member of the World Trade Organization, many nations are hesitant to negotiate trade agreements with the digital giant for fear of Chinese retaliation, but Taiwan does have free trade agreements with Singapore and New Zealand. Last year, Taiwan’s government relaxed a restriction on the import of pork containing ractopamine, a leanness-enhancing chemical, removing a significant roadblock to a deal with the US. Ben Blanchard contributed reporting, and Ana Nicolaci da Costa edited the piece. The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles are our standards. Continue reading

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