Beef issue unclear, US pressures saying TIFA currently hard to negotiate
US pressure: "Beef issue unclear, TIFA currently not easy to discuss"
According to Taiwan media reports, US Deputy Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis told Taiwan officials on the 10th that he personally agreed that Taiwan and the US should restart negotiations on the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), but "the beef issue is unclear, TIFA is currently hard to discuss."
According to Taiwan's United Daily News, Taiwan's "Minister of Economic Affairs" Shih Yen-shiang attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Singapore and held bilateral talks with the US side on the afternoon of the 10th. Officials present relayed after the meeting that the US side linked TIFA with the beef issue, "we fully felt this point."
According to the relay, the meeting lasted about 40 minutes. After exchanging pleasantries, both sides immediately got to the main topic, with the focus almost entirely on US beef. Although Marantis thanked the Taiwan authorities for their efforts in opening up to US beef, he also said "the US side is extremely worried about the situation in Taiwan (boycotting beef)."
Shih Yen-shiang explained to Marantis that Taiwan's "Legislative Yuan" would revise the Food Sanitation Act on November 17, with several versions proposed by both the ruling and opposition parties, assuring that "we value Taiwan-US relations very much, and beef will honor the commitments made in the signed agreement."
As for the public-initiated boycott, Shih Yen-shiang explained that this is a phenomenon of a democratic society, and the government can only respect it. Marantis then mentioned that the US Department of Agriculture's amendments to the Quality System Assessment (QSA) did not boycott the export of bone-in beef to Taiwan.
Afterwards, Shih Yen-shiang took the initiative to suggest to Marantis, "Since Taiwan is an important trading partner of the US, many issues can be brought to TIFA for discussion. Should Taiwan-US TIFA consultations be resumed?" Unexpectedly, Shih Yen-shiang encountered a polite rebuff, as Marantis clearly stated that "the beef issue is currently unclear."
Taiwan officials present interpreted this as "the US side just wants to wait until the beef issue is resolved before discussing TIFA."
In addition, Shih Yen-shiang also held talks with Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang on the 10th. Although the two sides did not touch on the issue of the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), Shih Yen-shiang mentioned to Lim Hng Kiang that "cross-strait relations are easing, and I hope the Taiwan-Singapore economic and trade ministers' meeting can discuss more issues," hinting that Taiwan and Singapore could begin talking about a free trade agreement (FTA).
According to Taiwan's United Daily News, Taiwan's "Minister of Economic Affairs" Shih Yen-shiang attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Singapore and held bilateral talks with the US side on the afternoon of the 10th. Officials present relayed after the meeting that the US side linked TIFA with the beef issue, "we fully felt this point."
According to the relay, the meeting lasted about 40 minutes. After exchanging pleasantries, both sides immediately got to the main topic, with the focus almost entirely on US beef. Although Marantis thanked the Taiwan authorities for their efforts in opening up to US beef, he also said "the US side is extremely worried about the situation in Taiwan (boycotting beef)."
Shih Yen-shiang explained to Marantis that Taiwan's "Legislative Yuan" would revise the Food Sanitation Act on November 17, with several versions proposed by both the ruling and opposition parties, assuring that "we value Taiwan-US relations very much, and beef will honor the commitments made in the signed agreement."
As for the public-initiated boycott, Shih Yen-shiang explained that this is a phenomenon of a democratic society, and the government can only respect it. Marantis then mentioned that the US Department of Agriculture's amendments to the Quality System Assessment (QSA) did not boycott the export of bone-in beef to Taiwan.
Afterwards, Shih Yen-shiang took the initiative to suggest to Marantis, "Since Taiwan is an important trading partner of the US, many issues can be brought to TIFA for discussion. Should Taiwan-US TIFA consultations be resumed?" Unexpectedly, Shih Yen-shiang encountered a polite rebuff, as Marantis clearly stated that "the beef issue is currently unclear."
Taiwan officials present interpreted this as "the US side just wants to wait until the beef issue is resolved before discussing TIFA."
In addition, Shih Yen-shiang also held talks with Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang on the 10th. Although the two sides did not touch on the issue of the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), Shih Yen-shiang mentioned to Lim Hng Kiang that "cross-strait relations are easing, and I hope the Taiwan-Singapore economic and trade ministers' meeting can discuss more issues," hinting that Taiwan and Singapore could begin talking about a free trade agreement (FTA).