Don't Overlook Trade With Taiwan

In her March 9 op-ed, "Trade Deals We Need to Close," former U.S. trade representative Charlene Barshefsky said that U.S.-China relations will benefit from "a mutual theater of balanced alliances grounded among equally integrated economies." One major global economy in Asia that will not "equally" benefit if it is shut out of trade initiatives is Taiwan.

The United States has a huge interest in ensuring that Taiwan remains a vibrant democracy, a market for U.S. companies and a partner in the development of the global market.

While Taiwan is the world's 17th-largest market and bilateral trade between our two economies is about $60 billion annually, Taiwan's importance to our economy goes beyond the numbers. Taiwanese companies, particularly in technology, are some of our most important global partners. Our partnership with them to design, manufacture and support an array of products -- manufactured mostly in China -- has an immense and positive effect on our economy and competitiveness.

Without a U.S.-Taiwan free-trade agreement, Taiwan has no ability to engage its regional partners, given China's opposition. Exclusion will marginalize Taiwan and hurt U.S. companies that have spent years developing supply chains through Taiwan.

RUPERT

HAMMOND-CHAMBERS

President

U.S.-Taiwan Business Council

Arlington