Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) says he hopes that Taiwan and the United States can sign bilateral trade agreement (BTA) and Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA). Chen was speaking on Thursday while receiving US-Taiwan Business Council Chairman Emeritus Paul Wolfowitz.
Chen praised Wolfowitz’s effort to deepen US-Taiwan economic and trade exchanges. The US delegation includes heavyweight US companies in high-tech, defense, energy and finance.
The premier said Taiwan was the United States’ ninth trading partner and the US was Taiwan’s second largest trading partner last year. Chen said that the two governments have negotiated through various mechanisms to establish a comprehensive economic and trade relationship.
Meanwhile, Wolfowitz said that Taiwan’s COVID-19 epidemic prevention efforts have been exceptional but that it is unfortunate that Taiwan cannot take part in the World Health Assembly. He believes that Taiwan should share its experience with the world and that the US-Taiwan Business Council is more than willing to assist from the sidelines.
Wolfowitz also said that regional peace is very important, not only for Taiwan but also for China, the United States and the world. He said if there is a war in the Taiwan Strait, it will trigger a war worldwide. Wolfowitz said he supports arms sales to Taiwan and that the key to avoiding war in the Taiwan Strait is Taiwan’s diplomatic deterrence.