Secretary Clinton's Meeting with Taiwan Representative at APEC

PR-1246E | Date: 09/10/2012

On September 9, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Taiwan’s representative to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, Lien Chan, to discuss steps both sides are taking to advance U.S.-Taiwan economic relations.

During the meeting, Secretary Clinton expressed her appreciation for President Ma Ying-jeou’s leadership in the legislature to bring Taiwan in line with international standards on imports such as beef. She said the United States looked forward to Taiwan making the regulatory changes necessary to implement this legislation expeditiously. Secretary Clinton noted the importance of trade liberalization and continued progress toward regulatory harmonization to Taiwan’s economic and strategic future.

The Secretary highlighted the value of greater engagement on economic and trade issues of interest to both sides. The United States and Taiwan will now begin exploratory work and prepare for future expert-level engagement under the umbrella of our Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. The Secretary also conveyed that she will dispatch Atul Keshap, the U.S. APEC Senior Official and Coordinator for Economic Policy in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to Taipei to consult on further broadening the U.S. economic relationship with Taiwan.