Taiwan to continue communicating with U.S. on trade issues

Taipei, July 14, 2003 (CENS)--Economics Minister Lin Yi-fu said the government has been maintaining communications with the U.S. government concerning bilateral trade issues. But he declined to comment on the American reluctance to hold senior level meetings.

Lin, who just returned yesterday from a trade and investment promotion tour to several European and Middle East nations, said that the communications with Washington will be continued.

The newly revised regulations concerning the protection of intellectual property rights by the lawmakers in the previous session will be forwarded to the United States for comments and feedback.

American officials have confirmed that the U.S. government has temporarily suspended the visits of senior officials to Taipei mainly because of Washington's dissatisfaction with Taiwan's lack of sincerity to solve the long-standing bilateral trade issues. The discussing on the signing of free trade agreement (FTA) or the trade and investment framework agreement (TIFA) are also put on hold for same reason.

Vice Premier Lin Hsin-yi and Economics Minister Lin have been singled out for Taipei's inaction on solving the problems. But Officials at the Executive Yuan (Cabinet) noted that they have never received U.S. complaints via the formal channels.

Huang Chih-fan, chief secretary to President Chen Shui-bian, said the Presidential Office received no notice from the American side. He said the trade disputes between the two sides have always been in existence. The U.S. has been discontented with Taiwan over the IPR issue as early as 20 years ago, he added.

But officials said that U.S. customers officials are scheduled to come to Taiwan late this month to hold talks on an agreement to jointly fight terrorist activities by intensifying security inspection of cargo containers. The pact could be signed in August.

However, it will still need much more time for the consultations with the U.S. over the major trade issues like IPR protection, imports of U.S. rice, and pharmaceutical prices because the issues involve farmers' interests and the system of separating medical treatment and dispense of drugs.