US, Taiwan announce plan to begin discussions on trade

Washington/Taipei on 18 August : The US and Taiwan have announced that talks on trade will officially begin after both sides agree on a protocol.

Taiwans Office of Trade Negotiations also announced the start of formal talks on Thursday, saying they hope to have talks to draw more US as well as foreign investment and make it easier for Taiwan to be a part of international trade blocs, such as Japans Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), according to the news agency dpa.Tariffs are not being discussed the Taiwan trade office said.Trade negotiations are expected begin in the autumn months The US Trade Representatives office has announced.

Taiwans state-owned Central News Agency reported the same timeframe.Washington and Taipei announced the US-Taiwan Initiative for 21st-Century Trade in June.

The latest announcement about talks follows the August 2 trip by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan was met with a furious response from China.Beijing launched massive military operations around Taiwan in the wake of.After a group of US lawmakers traveled to Taiwan just a couple of days ago, Beijing spoke of a new "provocation" from the US and announced further moves.Taiwan has had its own administration since 1949, however China believes that the island is to be part of the territory of China.

Beijing does not want official contacts with other countries as well as Taipei.