PR-2038
August 31, 2020
Statement on Recent Developments to the U.S.-Taiwan Economic Relationship
AIT commends Taiwan for taking significant steps toward fulfilling its commitments on market access for U.S. pork and beef. These steps affirm Taiwan’s global position as a reliable trading partner and will bring Taiwan into line with international standards applied by countries around the world.
U.S.-Taiwan discussions on beef and pork market access have spanned nearly a decade. Last week’s announcement is the result of productive engagement at all levels of government across several U.S. and Taiwan administrations. Taiwan continues to be one of our largest and most important economic partners. As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, we look forward to greater economic and trade cooperation between the United States and Taiwan.
In that context, we will be taking our economic relationship to the next level. Assistant Secretary Stilwell announced earlier today that the United States and Taiwan will be launching an Economic and Commercial Dialogue, led by the Department of State’s Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and Environment Keith Krach. This new senior-level annual economic dialogue will provide a platform to strengthen U.S.-Taiwan economic ties across a spectrum of priority issues, including reorienting technology and medical product supply chains; enhancing investment screening and intellectual property rights protection; and expanding infrastructure and energy sector collaboration. The Dialogue will be an opportunity to forge new areas of economic cooperation and strengthen existing ones.
The United States views Taiwan as a critical strategic partner. We look forward to using this new platform to bring real progress to each of our economies and also to the international community.