Taipei Times
Date: Apr 20, 2018
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Taiwan hopes that talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the US will resume this year, an official at the Office of Trade Negotiations told lawmakers yesterday.

Since Washington had not filled its deputy trade representative posts after US President Donald Trump assumed office in January last year, TIFA talks were not held last year, senior trade negotiator Hsiao Chen-jung (蕭振榮) said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee.

However, after the US Congress approved Jeffrey Gerrish’s nomination as deputy US trade representative for Asia, Europe, the Middle East and industrial competitiveness in March, Taipei has been discussing with Washington the possibility of resuming TIFA talks this year, Hsiao said.

Taiwan and the US signed the bilateral trade accord in 1994 and have held 10 rounds of talks. TIFA has become the major negotiating channel for high-ranking trade officials on both sides, led by officials at the deputy minister level.    [FULL  STORY]