On August 17, 2022, the Office the U.S. Trade Representative announced that formal negotiations have commenced with Taiwan on the United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade. This trade initiative was first announced in June 2022 as an effort to “deepen the economic and trade relationship, advance mutual trade priorities based on shared values, and promote innovation and inclusive economic growth for our workers and businesses.” See Update of June 2, 2022.
The United States and Taiwan, under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), have now reached consensus on the negotiating mandate for this trade initiative that establishes the broad objectives for negotiations. The agenda and mandate for negotiations will include discussions on trade facilitation, good regulatory practices, strong anti-corruption standards, enhancing trade between small and medium enterprises (SMEs), deepening agriculture trade, removing discriminatory barriers to trade, digital trade, robust labor and environmental standards, and ways to address distortive practices of state-owned enterprises and non-market policies and practices.