Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/08/07
By: Shih Hsiu-chuan
Taipei, Aug. 7 (CNA) Taiwan is actively preparing for negotiations over the
CNA file photo
nation’s admission to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), in the hope of joining the regional trade bloc during its second round of accession talks, Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Tuesday.
To step up preparedness for possible scenarios that could result from the negotiations, government officials have been conducting mock talks to examine related issues, Lai said in a pre-recorded interview with TTV and Unique Broadcasting that aired Tuesday night.
Taiwan’s top trade negotiator John Deng (鄧振中) has assembled a team to play each of the 11 countries that are signatories to the trade agreement and engage in mock negotiations with a delegation representing Taiwan, Lai said.
CPTPP is expected to solicit a second-wave of applicants at the end of this year or early next year, Lai said. “Our hope is that when Taiwan is invited to join CPTPP, we won’t have to spend too much time (to complete the negotiations).” [FULL STORY]
