Taiwan and the US have launched their second round of negotiations under a bilateral trade initiative, holding days of in-person talks in Washington on issues related to agriculture, labor and the environment.
The two sides “exchanged views on proposed texts covering agriculture, labor and the environment” during their talks under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade from Monday to Friday, the Office of the US Trade Representative said in a news release on Friday.
The release did not provide further details, saying only that discussions were “productive” and both sides had agreed to continue their talks “in the months ahead in order to reach consensus.”
Photo: Tyrone Siu, Reuters
In a separate news release, the Office of Trade Negotiations said the two sides discussed ways to promote bilateral trade in agriculture and food security through transparent regulations.
Both sides also exchanged ideas on how to ensure labor rights are in step with international standards, as well as how to promote green enterprises, decarbonize the economy and step up conservation efforts, the office said.
The talks, held in person in Washington, were headed by Office of Trade Negotiations Deputy Trade Representative Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮) and Assistant US Trade Representative Terry McCartin.
They came two months after Taipei and Washington signed an initial agreement under the initiative, covering issues such as customs and border procedures, regulatory practices and small and medium-sized businesses, in a bid to boost bilateral trade and investment.
Launched in June last year, the initiative also includes other mandates, including digital trade, state-owned enterprises, and non-market policies and practices.
It was created against the backdrop of Taiwan’s exclusion from the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, with Washington and Taipei saying they hoped to achieve “a trade agreement with high-standard commitments and economically meaningful outcomes.”
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