Taipei, July 13, 2007 (CENS)--The two-day sixth "Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA)" (talk between Taiwan and U.S. in Washington D.C. concluded on July 11, without concrete conclusions except the agreement for the establishment of "agricultural consultative mechanism," although both parties characterized the talk as a very constructive one.

Delegations of Taiwan and the U.S. were headed by Teng Chen-chung, director of the Office of Trade Negotiations, under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Karan Bhatia, respectively, with the Taiwan delegation also including Hou Sheng-mou, minister of the Department of Health, under the Executive Yuan (the Cabinet), and Lu Mu-lin, deputy economics minister.

Teng Cheng-chung noted that the meeting was a "warm and in-depth" one, while the U.S. delegates described it as a "positive" meeting.

On the investment and trade agreement, a major item on the agenda, both parties agreed to the need for further in-depth talks, as the U.S. representatives have yet to have much understanding of Taiwan`s investment mechanism.

During the talks, Teng Cheng-chung, expressed strong hope of Taiwan to sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the U.S., but the U.S. delegates noted that due to invalidation of the fast track legislation for FTA, conditions for signing of FTA between Taiwan and the U.S. are not mature.

Hou Sheng-mou reported that both parties have agreed to crack down on counterfeit medicines and Taiwan will continue to augment transparency in medical prices for the national health insurance program, although the U.S. delegates still complained about incompleteness in division of labor between doctors and pharmacists in Taiwan.

U.S. delegates expressed full confidence in the Taiwanese government`s determination and capability in cracking down on infringement on intellectual properties, according to Teng Cheng-chung. Lu Mu-lin pointed out that the Taiwanese government has established a task force to address the U.S. complaints about illegal downloading of data on TANET by students and copying of original English-language text books by students at copying stores near campuses.

(by Philip Liu)