U.S. and Taiwan Set Date to Revive Trade and Investment Talks

TAIPEI—The U.S. will revive trade and financial commitment talks with Taiwan subsequent 7 days in a shift supposed to draw Washington and Taipei nearer that also is probable to irk Beijing.

The de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei, the American Institute of Taiwan, stated Friday that its director, Brent Christensen, and Taiwan’s consultant in the U.S., Bi-Khim Hsiao, will convene a conference by videoconference Wednesday with participants from the Office of the U.S. Trade Agent and Taiwan’s trade business office.

An announcement was predicted soon after Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated previously this month that Washington planned to have interaction with Taiwan quickly on trade, devoid of sharing a timeline.

The two sides will have interaction less than a trade and financial commitment framework initially signed in 1994. These kinds of agreements make the basis for recurring dialogue on trade troubles, and often provide a precursor to full-fledged totally free-trade agreements. Taipei and Washington previous met less than the framework in 2016.

Taiwan’s International Ministry didn’t promptly answer to a request for comment.