蕭美琴日前被正式任命為駐美代表。她熟諳國際事務與對美關係，早年在美求學與工作期間，曾參與台灣人公共事務會（FAPA），並擔任過民進黨駐美代表處執行長，與美國台僑各界熟悉。FAPA期待她赴美履新後，能持續深化與正常化台美關係，並將簽訂自由貿易協定（FTA）列為任內首要目標之一。由於台美FTA符合兩國共同利益，台灣至少將在三方面受惠：促進台美經貿合作與投資；提升台灣的印太戰略地位；以及強化美國對台灣之承認。

受到美中貿易戰與武漢肺炎疫情蔓延之影響，美中經貿關係與中國投資環境持續惡化。一般預期美國及各國廠商將加速撤離中國，全球產業供應鏈亦將重組。美台FTA不僅能提升雙邊經貿合作，吸引外資來台，且有助台灣參與區域經濟整合，例如加入跨太平洋夥伴全面進步協定（CPTPP）。

中國近年來積極對外擴張政經與軍事影響力，嚴重破壞區域穩定，已被美國視為戰略競爭者。為防堵中國竊取美國高科技與軍事技術，並利用中國廠商之５Ｇ通訊產品危害美國國安，美方已增強與台灣高科技與軍事產業之合作，例如遊說台積電赴美設廠，規劃在台成立F-16亞太維修中心。

此外，自一九七九年雙方斷交以來，美台僅維持「人民與人民之間」非正式關係，雙邊協議皆由美國在台協會（AIT）簽署。然而台美FTA將由美國貿易代表署（USTR）負責談判，並經參眾兩院同意、美國總統簽署批准後，始能生效。換言之，此約將會是美國與台灣雙方政府所締結的「國與國之間」正式協定，具備國際法上條約效力，將更加確立美國承認台灣之國家地位。

FAPA與美國國會友台議員，長年倡議台美簽訂貿易協定，如今，正是洽簽FTA的最佳時機。自去年底以來，美國國會、智庫與商會紛紛呼籲啟動台美FTA協商。台灣近日自口蹄疫區除名，豬肉得以再度外銷。台灣應把握良機，以務實態度及國際食安標準來處理美豬、美牛議題。在保障台灣人民健康的同時，力求達成台美貿易協定，共創兩國經貿與戰略利益，並提升台灣之國際地位。

原文刊載於自由時報（2020/6/24）

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U.S. Representatives Call Upon Obama Administration To Work Towards Free Trade Agreement With Taiwan

Last night, May 6, 2010, Reps. Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Scott Garrett (R-NJ) and John Culberson (R-TX) introduced House Concurrent Resolution 276 calling upon the Obama Administration to work towards a U.S. Taiwan Free Trade agreement. Reps. Andrews and Garrett recently spoke at a Capitol Hill briefing on April 28 to revive the campaign for a U.S.-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement.

The resolution states that President Obama should make the conclusion of a U.S.-Taiwan free trade agreement a top priority, and to instruct the USTR to expedite negotiations on a free trade agreement between the U.S. and Taiwan.

During the April 28 briefing to Congress, Rep. Andrews expressed his support for such an endeavor. He stated: “for both economic and strategic reasons, the time has arrived for a Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Taiwan.”

Congressman Andrews added: “But the strategic advantage [of a U.S.-Taiwan FTA] is even more self-evident, in my view. It is an affirmation of an important sense that the United States regards the people of Taiwan, functionally as a free, sovereign and independent people. You don’t make free trade agreements with someone else’s state or territory.  You make free trade agreements with sovereign people. That is a hugely important symbol – which leads to my second point. The so–called ‘Economic Framework’ that’s being discussed between the PRC and Taiwan, in my view, is more of a ‘Cage’ than a ‘Framework.’  I think it reflects a negotiation from the point of a disadvantage. Now I believe any duly elected government has the autonomy to negotiate any agreement it sees fit for its people, but that presupposes a negotiation that is free of coercion and is conducted in a truly bilateral, equivalent context. And that is most assuredly not the case.”

FAPA President Bob Yang, PhD says: “A U.S.-Taiwan FTA will free Taiwan from China’s economic stranglehold which is, in fact, a potent nonmilitary instrument of influence that China is forging to affect political choices in Taiwan and to achieve the annexation of Taiwan.”

Dr. Yang concludes: “If and when the U.S. exercises its leadership to ink an FTA with Taiwan, other like-minded democracies will undoubtedly follow suit.  This would permit Taiwan to broaden its trade and other international relations, thereby giving Taiwan an opportunity to escape the death embrace of China.”

美眾議員呼籲歐巴馬政府推動台美自由貿易協定

美國紐澤西州民主黨眾議員安德魯斯(Robert Andrews, D-NJ)以及共和黨議員蓋瑞特(Scott Garrett, R-NJ)與德州共和黨克柏森議員(John Culberson, R-TX)於昨晚(6日)提出第276號決議案，呼籲歐巴馬政府推動台美自由貿易協定。安德魯斯及蓋瑞特議員日前雙雙參與一場國會簡報，重新喚起各界對台美自由貿易協定這項議題的支持。

這項決議案表示：「歐巴馬總統應該將台美自由貿易協定列為優先順序，並指示美國貿易代表處加速與台灣方面的相關談判。」

在這場於4月28日假美國國會舉行的簡報中，安德魯斯議員公開發表他對這項議題的支持。他在簡報中說：「無論是經濟或戰略考量，現在正是美國與台灣簽署自由貿易協定的時刻。」

安德魯斯議員又說：「我認為這個(美台自由貿易協定)帶來的戰略優點是很明顯的。這在強化一項很重要的美國認知，也就是美國視台灣人民在運作上是自由、自主與獨立的人民。你不會和其他國家的一州或是領土來簽署自由貿易協定，而是與自主獨立的人民簽訂自由貿易協定。這有著極為重要的象徵性－也是我接下來要提到的第二點。目前台灣和中國進行討論中所謂的『經濟架構』(ECFA)，依我看來，與其說是個架構，其實更像是個牢籠。我認為這反應出一個從弱勢出發的談判。當然我相信任何一個正當民選的政府有自主權來進行他們認為對人民有利的談判，但前提是這樣的談判必須在不受外界脅迫，並且在真正雙邊、對等的情況下所舉行。目前很明顯不是這樣的情形。」

FAPA會長楊英育表示：「台美自由貿易協定將讓台灣有機會跳出中國的經濟枷鎖，這個枷鎖事實上是中國一個強而有力的非軍事工具，來影響台灣的政治選項以達到併吞台灣的目的。」

楊會長最後表示：「如果當美國率先與台灣簽署自由貿易協定時，其他意識型態相似的民主國家無疑會接著跟進。這將使台灣能夠擴大貿易和其他國際關係，因而讓台灣有一個機會跳脫出中國的死亡擁抱。」

Photo Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

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U.S. Representative Introduces U.S.-Taiwan FTA Resolution

Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) yesterday introduced H.Con.Res.342, calling for a free trade agreement between Taiwan and the United States. The resolution lauds Taiwan’s democratic and economic achievements and concludes: “That it is the sense of the Congress that the President should make the conclusion of a free trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan one of the top priorities of the United States when initiating bilateral free trade agreements with foreign countries.”

A similar resolution was introduced by Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) and William Jefferson (D-LA) three years ago in the 108th Congress.

FAPA President C.T. Lee states: “Negotiations on free trade agreements with several Asian countries are under way, such as South Korea and Malaysia. Taiwan is not only the gateway to East Asia but also the eighth largest trading partner of the United States, ranking between South Korea and Malaysia. Taiwan is a model democracy in the region as President Bush stated when he praised Taiwan’s democratic achievements in Kyoto last November. That is why the idea of an FTA with Taiwan has already received a lot of backing from the US Congress.”

C.T. Lee continues: “A US-Taiwan FTA has economic and political advantages. The FTA will bring tremendous opportunities and commercial interests to American companies. Since China attempts to isolate Taiwan by forming ASEAN plus three, an FTA between Taiwan and the United States will help Taiwan break its international economic isolation. Additionally, once an FTA with the United States is concluded, we believe Beijing will be less likely to assume that it could take military action against the island without involving the United States.”

C.T. Lee concludes, “The US trade deficit with China again broke all records last year. Therefore, the President should adjust his current trade policy towards the region. Moving discussions on the US-Taiwan FTA forward is definitely a step in the right direction.”

美議員引進台美自由貿易協定決議案

台灣連線成員之一的安德魯斯眾議員於昨日引進第342號決議號，公開呼籲布希政府支持台美雙邊自由貿易協定。這個決議案，雖然不具法律效力，主要是在建議布希政府優先考慮與台灣簽署雙邊自由貿易協定，並希望布希政府能夠促進與台灣之間的各項貿易機會。

美國國會在三年前也曾引進一個類似的決議案，當時是由傑弗遜(William Jefferson, D-LA)與瑞斯塔(Jim Ramstad, R-MN) 議員在眾議院共同領銜的。

決議案裡提及台灣的各項經濟成就，並強調台灣是美國的第八大貿易夥伴，遠高於新加坡、摩洛哥、約旦、澳洲等已經與美國完成簽署自由貿易協定的國家。決議案裡並引用美國國際貿易委員會2002年10月份的報告，表示台美自由貿易協定一旦完成，美國對台出口將增長十六百分比；國際經濟研究院則預測台美自由貿易協定將使美國對台出口每年度增長六十億美元。

FAPA會長李青泰表示：「美國近來已經與數個亞洲國家，如南韓與馬來西亞等國，展開雙邊自由貿易協定的相關談判。台灣是美國第八大貿易夥伴，介於南韓與馬來西亞之間；希總統去年十一月在京都發表談話時，公開讚揚台灣是東亞的民主模範。這些都是為什麼與台灣簽署自由貿易協定這個議題在美國國會受到廣泛支持的主要原因。」

李青泰接著表示：「台美自由貿易協定不只會為美國許多企業與廠商帶來豐厚的利潤與創造許多機會，這樣的協定也包涵著重要的政治意義。當中國藉由東南亞國協加三等區域經貿整合圈來刻意排除台灣時，台美自由貿易協定將有效協助台灣打破在國際經貿上所受到的孤立。有些學者則強調，如果台美之間有著雙邊自由貿易協定，將大幅減低北京攻打台灣的可能性。」

李青泰最後表示：「根據日前所公佈的數據，美國對中國的貿易逆差又再創新高。布希總統應修正現有對亞洲的經貿政策，推動台美貿易協定即是行政部門應採取的正確方向之一。」

Photo Credit: 冠庭（Flickr）

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U.S. Representative Calls For US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement – Endorses U.S.-Taiwan TIFA Negotiations

In a letter dated November 15, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) wrote to US Trade Representative Ambassador Rob Portman stating that he endorses the United States restarting Trade Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) negotiations with Taiwan. In the same letter, Rep. Sessions also advocates for the establishment of a U.S.-Taiwan free trade agreement.

Rep. Sessions writes: “I was pleased to see the resumption of TIFA talks with Taiwan in November of last year after six years of inaction, and I would appreciate hearing about the prospects for resuming these talks as a precursor to a free trade agreement.”

The Congressman continues: “American exports are up 8.7 percent year to date over last year, which is a significant increase that could become much greater if a free trade agreement were enacted with Taiwan….Increased economic relations between the United States and Taiwan will provide significant economic advantages to both countries.”

FAPA President Ming-chi Wu says: “Since Taiwan continues to be economically isolated by China’s attempts to establish a free trade zone with other Asian countries without Taiwan participating in it, it is of the utmost importance that the United States maintains a robust economic and trade relationship with Taiwan, leading to a bilateral US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement.”

Wu continues, “The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act specifically directs the U.S. Administration towards promoting “extensive commercial relations” between the people of the United States and Taiwan (Section 2(b)1). Any trade related dialogue, and especially a U.S.-Taiwan free trade agreement, will fulfill this U.S. commitment to Taiwan’s economic security.”

美眾議員支持台美自由貿易協定以及美台貿易與投資架構協定　

一向友好支持台灣的塞森斯眾議員(Pete Sessions, R-TX)於日前（十一月十五日）致函美國貿易代表波特曼(Rob Portman)，肯定去年底重開談判的「TIFA〈貿易與投資架構協定〉會議」；塞森斯議員並在信中表達他對美台簽署自由貿易協定(FTA)的支持。

塞森斯議員表示：「我很高興看到美台TIFA會議在中斷六年後，於去年十一月恢復談判。我也期盼瞭解被視為為台美自由貿易協定舖路的TIFA會議的未來展望。」

議員接著表示：「美國去年出口增長8.7的百分點，如果台美貿易協定能簽署生效，這個成長幅度將更為加大。……美國與台灣之間經濟關係的增進將提供兩國相當重要的經濟優勢。」

FAPA會長吳明基表示：「當中國持續蓄意將台灣排擠在其所建構的亞洲自由貿易區之外時，美國如能與台灣繼續維持活躍的經貿關係是格外重要的，特別是當這樣的互動能協助台美雙方自由貿易協定的簽署。」

吳明基繼續表示：「台灣關係法中特別指示美國行政部門要致力提倡台美兩國人民之間的商務關係。任何與貿易相關的雙邊對話，尤其是台美自由貿易協定，都將能履行美國對台灣經濟安全的承諾。」

Photo Credit: 冠庭（Flickr）

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Rep. Wexler Voices Strong Support For US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement

In a 5/22 letter to US International Trade Commission Chair Steve Koplon, Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) said an US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement “merits careful evaluation and deserves strong support.”

Wexler noted that the an ITC fact-finding investigation on such an FTA would “help Congress and the Bush administration understand the ways in which both economies are evolving, so we can use the free trade agreement to find new opportunities for US producers, workers and farmers.”

Noting that an FTA would be “to the mutual advantage of both peoples,” Wexler also said he was convinced “that a proposed free trade agreement will help U.S. entrepreneurs take advantage of many new opportunities both in Taiwan and throughout Asia.”

“The strong ties between democratic Taiwan with its free market economy and the United States will be immensely strengthened by a US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement,” stated FAPA President Wu Ming-chi. “China seems intent on creating a free trade area with the ASEAN nations that would exclude Japan, Taiwan and the United States. It is in the national interests of both the U.S. and Taiwan to move quickly to a US-Taiwan FTA.”

台灣連線主席魏克斯勒致函國貿委員會主席，支持台美自由貿易協定

台美自由貿易協定 (U.S.-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement)，特別是此刻在進行中的評估報告的關切及未來期許。

有鑑於台美自由貿易協定為現今台美兩國政府高度重視的議題，加上國際貿易委員會已於五月十三日，針對鮑可仕參議員之要求，進行有關台美自由貿易協定的聽證會；魏克斯勒議員特於二十二日致致函國際貿易委員會主席凱波倫，表達他對此議題的關心。魏克斯勒議員在信中首先強調台灣的經濟實力，列舉出台灣為美國第十大出口市場，第五大美國農業產品出口市場，魏克斯勒議員接著則指出他的佛羅里達州在2001年更出口近1億5千8百萬元的產品至台灣，在在都顯示出台灣為美國多年來最重要的貿易夥伴。

身為全面提昇與台灣貿易關係的支持者，魏克斯勒議員相信台美自由貿易協定值得我們仔細的研究評估與強烈的支持。他也在信中表示希望看到國際貿易委員會此刻在進行中的評估報告能紀錄台美兩個經濟體如何地緊密聯結，尤其是在電腦及電子產業部份。而這樣的評估報告將會幫助美國國會及布希總統瞭解兩國經濟體的發展，以幫助美國製造商，工人及農民在海外尋找新的機會。魏克斯勒議員最後則再次強調台美自由貿易協定將會幫助美國企業在台灣甚至是整個亞洲都能獲得許多機會，而這樣的協定，最後也將受惠於台美兩國人民。

FAPA會長吳明基表示，FAPA近幾個月來一直在密切觀察台美自由貿易協定的進展，因為簽定自由貿易協定將可增進簽約國雙方的經貿利益，而台灣也可從這樣的協定中提高人民的生活水準，台灣的科技產業也可因密切的經貿交流而再上一層樓。由於參議員鮑可仕已在參議院引進此案，魏克斯勒議員此封信，將有助於FAPA瞭解眾議院，尤其是較同情勞工族群的民主黨員對自由貿易協定的看法，以適時在眾議院引進及推動通過台美自由貿易協定。吳明基最後表示，台美自由貿易協定，加上台灣此刻與其他國家談判中的自由貿易協定，將一同幫助台灣在此波全球自由貿易協定簽署風潮中，不致被邊緣化；而確保台灣的經貿地位與經濟實力，將有助於台灣的自信心，對兩岸的發展為一良性發展指標。

Photo Credit: 冠庭（Flickr）

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