Don't Overlook Trade With Taiwan
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
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
