Taiwan, U.S. officials hold talks at APEC: Source

Gyeongju, South Korea, Oct. 31 (CNA) Taiwan's top trade negotiator Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮) and National Science and Technology Council head Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) discussed tariffs and other bilateral issues with U.S. officials on the sidelines of the APEC Ministerial Meeting in South Korea, a government source said Friday.

Yang, head of Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiation, held a one-on-one meeting with Rick Switzer, U.S. deputy trade representative, on Thursday during the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Gyeongju, the source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told CNA.

Yang and Switzer discussed various trade issues, including ongoing talks over the 20 percent U.S. tariff on Taiwanese goods, which took effect in early August and which Taiwan is seeking to reduce, according to the source.

Meanwhile, Wu, who co-led the Taiwan delegation with Yang, held two meetings with three U.S. State Department officials -- Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jacob Helberg, and Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael DeSombre, the source said.

According to the source, during the meetings, Wu said that Taiwan hopes to expand cooperation with the U.S. on talent cultivation, innovative industries, supply chain security, and strengthening global leadership in artificial intelligence.