Foreign Minister David Lin said Friday that Taiwan hopes to sign a bilateral investment agreement (BIA) with the European Union. Lin was speaking at an event marking Europe Day.
Lin said that the government will begin talks with the EU on pharmaceuticals, standards, inspections, and automobile parts through four bilateral working groups.
However, Lin said that the EU is currently negotiating a number of investment and trade agreements with other countries. He said the two sides will begin negotiations on an economic cooperation agreement or BIA when the time is right.
Meanwhile, the EU’s representative to Taiwan, Frederic Laplanche said that Taiwan-EU relations are very good, with trade between the two sides continuing to grow. Asked about the potential timing of a bilateral investment agreement, Laplanche said that the EU will begin negotiations “as soon as possible”.