For Immediate Release
Washington DC – December 1, 2005
Contact: (202) 547-3686
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。」
