Economics Minister John Deng is in the United States drumming up support for Taiwan’s participation in international free trade agreements.
At the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies on Tuesday, Deng said that expanding free trade is vital for Taiwan. He said that Taiwan’s existing free trade agreements with Singapore and New Zealand show that Taiwan is a high quality trade partner. Under these agreements, Taiwan has lifted tariffs on more than 90% of imported goods from the two countries.
Deng said he hopes that the US will understand Taiwan’s efforts in recent years to promote free trade, improve regulatory oversight, and restructure industries.
Deng is the first Taiwanese economics minister to visit the United States in 11 years. However, he’s no stranger to Washington D.C., having served as Taiwan’s deputy representative to the United States from 2006-2007.