Taiwan-US TIFA talks to resume on June 30, could pave way for BTA

The 11th Taiwan-U.S. TIFA will resume talks on June 30 after a four-year hiatus, according to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). The statement issued on Friday indicated that the meeting will be held via digital video conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement comes after a steady improvement of Taiwan-U.S. relations. Talks will revolve around trade and other methods of improving and strengthening trade relations. Global trade has seen a number of events that disrupted the status quo of the past decade, including the China-U.S. trade war and COVID-19 pandemic. Representatives will aim to also discuss measures to strengthen supply chains' resiliency towards disruptive events, intellectual property, and diversifying the supply chain.

Contrary to past practices, Taiwan will have the Economic Ministry's Economic and Trade Office deputy negotiator Yang Cheng-ni attend the 11th council meeting, rather than the economic deputy minister.

President Tsai Ing-wen also pointed out a few days ago that the resumption of negotiations through TIFA can further strengthen economic and trade partnerships and lay the foundation for future discussions on bilateral trade agreements.

After Taiwan and the United States signed the TIFA in 1994, they held 10 meetings between 1995 and 2016, alternately held in Taipei and Washington DC, attended by the Director of International Trade of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the assistant trade representative of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Since 2004, the council meeting was promoted to deputy ministerial-level dialogue.