Resolution of US beef issue needed for TIFA talks: Ma

Ma said that the TIFA, signed in 1994 as a framework for Taiwan-U.S. dialogue on trade-related issues, is a good platform for trade talks and that he hopes the two sides can resume trade negotiations as soon as possible.

The resolution of the U.S. beef dispute, however, is a prerequisite, as it is currently blocking the talks, Ma said when meeting with a U.S. congressional delegation led by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairwoman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

He was referring to Taiwan's current ban on imports of U.S. beef containing residue of ractopamine, a leanness enhancer used as a feed additive by the U.S. meat industry that is banned in many countries, including Taiwan.

The ban is believed to be largely associated with the longtime stalling of the TIFA talks, which the U.S. halted in 2007 after Taiwan imposed a strict ban on ractopamine a year earlier and refused to admit batches of U.S. beef containing the drug.

Ma also said Taiwan wants to be included in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) within eight years and added that the government will create conditions over the next few years to increase its leverage when trying to participate in regional economic blocs.

He also touted his China policies, calling the peaceful cross-Taiwan Strait situation “an intangible form of national defense,” because no one will be willing to change the status quo at the cost of the prosperity and peace across the Taiwan Strait.

SHARE CLOSE
Blogger		Google+
Live Journal		Plurk
Stumble Upon

Tweet

	PREVIOUS ARTICLE
	Ultra marathon runner finishes 2nd in Brazil race

NEXT ARTICLE
US Congress to continue pushing arms sales

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email

Submit