US, Taiwan Revive Trade Talks Despite Objections From Beijing

WASHINGTON—The United States and Taiwan on June 29 resumed trade talks after five years, a move that has angered the communist regime in Beijing, which claims sovereignty over the liberal democratic island. Discussions reopened on the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which was stalled in 2016. At the virtual meeting, U.S. and Taiwanese officials pledged to deepen the trade and investment relationship. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, which led the talks, said in a statement that the two sides discussed a wide range of issues, including creating resilient supply chains and combating forced labor and climate change. After the virtual meeting, Taiwan’s chief trade negotiator John Deng reiterated Taiwan’s aspiration for a bilateral trade deal. “We expressed to the U.S. that Taiwan hopes to sign a trade agreement,” he told reporters. “We believe that if we continue to work hard, we will achieve our goal one day.” …