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Press Release

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Slater to Visit Taiwan

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following announcement on June 9, 2000:

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater will travel to Taiwan to attend the annual joint conference of the U.S.-ROC (Taiwan) and the ROC-U.S.A. Business Councils on June 14 and 15 in Taipei, Taiwan.

The theme of the conference is "Taiwan's New Landscape: Business Opportunities in the 21st Century." Secretary Slater will travel to Taiwan at the invitation of the U.S.-ROC (Taiwan) Business Council, a private, non-profit organization of American and Taiwan business representatives.

"President Clinton and Vice President Gore firmly believe that transportation is the crucial link in enabling free trade to contribute to prosperity throughout the world in the new century and new millennium," Secretary Slater said. "I look forward to my meetings in Taiwan and discussing how we can expand our transportation and trade ties."

During his visit, Secretary Slater will address the opening plenary session on June 14 and discuss economic and commercial issues of mutual interest to the United States and Taiwan, as well as issues in the transportation sector. He will also meet with representatives of the U.S. business community in Taipei to discuss their participation in Taiwan's economy. Further, Secretary Slater will share information regarding his upcoming International Transportation Symposium to be held in Washington, D.C. in October to share and discuss best practices with government, industry, labor and other representatives from around the world.

Secretary Slater's visit continues an eight-year tradition in which a Cabinet-level official has participated in the conference, reflecting the extensive economic and commercial ties between the U.S. and Taiwan. The U.S. is Taiwan's largest trading partner, absorbing 25.4 percent of Taiwan's exports and supplying 18 percent of its imports. In 1999, Taiwan was the seventh-largest trading partner of the U.S. and our eighth-largest export market.