IMPORTED MEAT:The KMT presidential candidate said that the imports of US pork would likely be a critical issue in talks for Taiwan to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Taipei Times
Date: Nov 12, 2015
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter, with CNA
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday said he
Supporters greet Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Eric Chu, center, at Los Angeles International Airport upon his arrival on Tuesday. Photo: Shih Shiao-kuang, Taipei Times
would attach a high priority to public health and the stances of Taiwan’s neighboring trade partners on the issue of US pork imports.
Chu made the remarks at a news conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, the first leg of his seven-day visit to the US.
“While the Taiwanese government has no preference as to which regional partnership to join first: the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) or the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, I personally think Taiwan’s entry to the TPP will happen sooner,” Chu said.
As the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between Taipei and Washington is likely to play a major role in Taiwan’s attempts to join the TPP, the issue of US pork imports would most likely be put on the negotiating table in the process, Chu said. [FULL STORY]