INHOFE MEETS WITH PRESIDENT MA OF TAIWAN
January 8, 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), co-chair of the Taiwan Caucus, today met with President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan to discuss free trade agreements (FTA) and the country’s expressed interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Sen. Inhofe is currently leading a Congressional delegation on a trip through Asia.
“I am pleased that the United States granted visa waiver status to Taiwan this past October so that Taiwanese citizens can visit and do business in the United States,” said Inhofe to Ma. “ As Chairman of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, I had introduced a bipartisan bill to designate Taiwan as a visa waiver country, and the Department of Homeland Security responded to my request by granting the visa waiver status. This certainly enhances our nations’ relationship with each other, and I look forward to the possibility of other means that strengthening our nation’s commercial, educational, and cultural ties with Taiwan."
"Further, the U.S. and Taiwan have a very important trade relationship, and I think it is important for us to work toward more comprehensive agreements such as a Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Free Trade Agreement. As we discuss the many issues that are sure to arise in these negotiations, it is critically important for Taiwan to maintain and carry out its commitments under existing agreements so that negotiations and discussions - in TIFA and elsewhere - can move forward unhindered."
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