Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed confidence that U.S.-Taiwan trade will continue to expand.

(Photo by reporter Tian Yuhua)

Reporters Wei Xibin, Guang Yanxin/Interview with Yang Fuyi/Compilation

Q: Although Taiwan's trade was previously disrupted by the US-China trade war and the uncertainty of the epidemic, Taiwan has now become the eighth largest trading partner of the US. What are the reasons?

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A: That's fine, well done.

Anytime countries expand trade relations with other freedom-loving democracies, that's fine.

As Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-teh said on the morning of the 27th, Taiwan's per capita GDP (gross domestic product) will grow, freedom will expand, and risks will be reduced.

Americans also benefit. Our consumers can receive high-quality products. More Taiwanese companies will invest in the United States, and more American companies will invest in Taiwan.

We all know that these things build the fundamental bilateral relationship and set the foundation for security.

I am very confident that US-Taiwan trade will continue to expand.

The "Global Taiwan Business Forum" is very good at bringing together business leaders. Not only the government has to do things well, but ultimately it comes down to the people's ability to make their lives better. Through large and medium-sized enterprises, they can grow together with each other and use American expertise. Technology, Taiwan's expertise, and working together to make life better is really good.

Q: The "US-Taiwan 21st Century Trade Initiative" has started negotiations. What cooperation opportunities does this provide?

Can Taiwan expand it into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in the future?

A: I think it's great that the "US-Taiwan 21st Century Trade Initiative" has started negotiations.

Yes, I've mentioned these FTAs ​​in the past, and these things are flawed, have a long history, and I don't make predictions.

However, with or without a formal bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan, we can lower barriers, we can collaborate, we can send our children to each other's universities, we can learn each other's languages, we can do these things to build economic relationships and economic ties.

Whether or not we have these big old-school long-form (free) trade agreements - which require a lot of lawyer research, business people may just want to get things done.