Minister without portfolio, Jenny Yang
by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer
Taiwan’s chief trade negotiator, Minister Without Portfolio Jenni Yang, announced on Thursday that the country will continue pursuing a trade agreement with the US under the incoming administration of president-elect Donald Trump.
Despite a temporary halt in discussions due to the transition, Taiwan remains hopeful about advancing the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, Yang shared with reporters at the APEC summit in Lima. She noted that Taiwan is gearing up to review regulations in preparation for new negotiations, which will address topics such as agriculture, labor, and environmental issues.
Yang acknowledged the complexity of these negotiations, expressing hope that Trump’s administration would carry forward discussions on the second phase of talks, following the signing of the initial agreement last June. This first agreement, anticipated to take effect by the end of the year, encompasses customs administration, trade facilitation, regulatory practices, anti-corruption policies, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
However, there are concerns regarding Taiwan’s trade relations with the US following Trump’s election, given his critical stance on global trade. During the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday, Yang met with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, where they emphasized the significance of economic ties and discussed progress made under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, as well as collaboration in multilateral organizations like the WTO.
Additionally, Taiwan’s envoy to APEC, Lin Hsin-i, engaged in discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Lima. They focused on enhancing the bilateral partnership and maintaining regional peace and stability, while also addressing the development of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies.
Lin, who is also the chairman of Taiwania Capital Management and a senior adviser to President William Lai, participated in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, attended by leaders including US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. APEC is one of the few international organizations where Taiwan has full membership, although it participates with special envoys rather than its president due to pressure from China.
