WASHINGTON – Biden administration said on Wednesday it would continue negotiations to strengthen trade and technology ties with Taiwan, a move aimed at countering China’s influence in the Asia-Pacific region and likely that bothers Beijing.
The announcement followed the Biden administration’s efforts to build an Asia-Pacific economic bloc, known as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which includes 13 countries and excludes Taiwan.
China claims the island, a self-governing democracy that is fundamental to global technology supply chains, as an indisputable part of its territory.
Although Taiwan expressed interest in becoming a full member of the Indo-Pacific framework, many participating countries considered this perspective too controversial.
Talks with Taiwan will address many of the same issues as the framework, such as ways of digital trade to cut red tape for importers and exporters. U.S. officials said the talks, the first of which will be held in Washington in late June, will focus on a variety of issues, such as the opening of agricultural trade and the alignment of technology standards.
Various topics of discussion are clearly aimed at addressing mutual complaints about Chinese business practices. U.S. officials said they would work with Taiwan to eliminate forced labor on global supply chains and develop arrangements to compete with state-owned enterprises’ non-commercial practices.
Negotiations will be conducted in two ways, with the U.S. Trade Representative in charge of trade issues and the Department of Commerce in charge of technology and investment, including the coordination of export controls and measures to ensure semiconductor supply chains.
“Taiwan is an incredibly important partner for us, especially when it comes to semiconductors,” Gina Raimondo, the secretary of commerce, said in a briefing on Tuesday, adding, “We look forward to continuing to deepen our economic ties with Taiwan.” .
Taiwan has long been pushing for deeper trade ties with the United States. In 2020, it eased restrictions on U.S. beef and pork imports in an effort to lure the United States into formal negotiations. The following year, the United States and Taiwan resumed some trade talks despite opposition from Beijing.
Since then, the global shortage of semiconductors, one of Taiwan’s most valuable exports, has further increased the island’s strategic importance.
As the Biden administration’s negotiations with Taiwan would not include so-called market access provisions requiring changes in U.S. law, the administration does not anticipate needing congressional approval for any agreement, they said. senior officials, though they added that they would continue to consult with Congress. about the process.
Given Taiwan’s contested status, the two sides will also meet unofficially and under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan, which is the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei, and the Office of Economic Representation. Taipei Cultural Center, representing Taiwan in the United States. the absence of diplomatic recognition.
Senior U.S. officials said Tuesday in a call with reporters that while they did not include Taiwan among the initial members negotiating the Indo-Pacific economic framework, they sought to take a flexible approach to participation.