RESTRICTIONS:The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei suggested that Taiwan make concessions on the import of US pork in exchange for a bilateral trade agreement

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 09, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Food safety and the rights of farmers are the government’s foremost considerations when pushing for Taiwan’s participation in international trade agreements, the Presidential Office said yesterday.

The office was responding to a suggestion by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (AmCham) that Taiwan compromise on the issue of US pork and beef imports in exchange for a bilateral trade agreement with the US.

A Taiwan-US trade agreement would seem feasible, given the long and mutually fruitful economic relationship between the two nations and the support Taiwan continues to enjoy in the US Congress, AmCham said yesterday in its Taiwan White Paper.

“Clearly Taiwan would have to make some concessions on outstanding trade issues, with its current restrictions on the import of some American pork and beef products as the major example,” AmCham said.

The government welcomes continued communication and cooperation with the US on trade and will work to expand the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations, the office said.    [FULL  STORY]