A U.S. delegation is in Taiwan for the first formal negotiations over the text of a trade agreement, following an initial round of talks in November 2022.
The effort is aimed at pushing back against China’s bid to create a regional sphere of influence and become the world’s most influential power, according to a previous White House statement. The meetings, which began on Jan. 14, are set to run through Jan. 17.
The discussions have focused on multiple areas including anti-corruption standards, trade by small- and medium-sized businesses, regulatory practices, and trade facilitation. They are parts of the 11 areas highlighted for continuing discussion, according to the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office (USTR)….