The 10th round of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks between Taiwan and the United States opened in Washington DC on Tuesday. The meeting will cover a wide range of trade issues between the two sides.
Taiwan’s delegation is led by Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua, while the US delegation is headed by US Deputy Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Holleyman and Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the USTR Darci Vetter.
Among the topics to be discussed, the issue of US meat exports to Taiwan is a major concern for both sides. The US Trade Representative published a report on Technical Barriers to Trade in March. It indicated Taiwan has placed limitations on imports of US beef, beef products, and pork and genetically modified foods that contain the leanness enhancing drug ractopamine. The controversies over the health effects of these additives have made Taiwan reluctant to import them. The US says Taiwan must handle the import of US meat products on a scientific basis.
Holleyman told Taiwan that Congress is questioning whether Taiwan is still committed to the agreements reached between the two sides to advance trade. He hopes Taiwan can address the issues that are of concern to the US. He said it is only then that Washington will consider the issue of whether Taiwan can become a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.