Taiwan’s APEC bilateral talks to focus on CPTPP bid: Top trade negotiator

• Taiwan’s chief trade negotiator, John Deng, attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, highlighted the primary goal of bilateral talks to garner support for Taiwan’s inclusion in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
• Deng emphasized the importance of APEC as an opportunity for Taiwan to engage with CPTPP member countries, expressing the country’s eagerness to join the trade pact. Taiwan submitted its application to join the CPTPP in September 2021.
• Deng anticipated discussions on semiconductor cooperation at APEC, recognizing the growing importance of chip security as a national security concern globally. He also expressed Taiwan’s intention to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to push for a second round of talks under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade.
• Deng hoped to expand the scope of the “First Agreement” signed in June 2023, addressing topics such as agriculture, digital trade, labor, environment, state-owned enterprises, and nonmarket policies and practices.
• The APEC summit, themed “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All,” has also drawn attention to the anticipated meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Taiwan, known as “Chinese Taipei,” joined APEC in 1991.

External Link : https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202311130006