Tariff talks ongoing, to keep seeking better rates: Taiwan negotiator

Taipei, Aug. 3 (CNA) Tariff negotiations with the United States will continue, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君), who recently led a delegation to Washington for a fourth round of trade talks, said on her return to Taiwan on Sunday.

"We will keep working hard to secure better tariff rates," Cheng told CNA when asked about the results of tariff talks as she arrived in Taiwan at around 5:21 a.m. on an EVA Airways flight from the United States.

Cheng made the comments after the White House on Aug. 1 announced tariffs on Taiwan, proposing a 20 percent tariff -- higher than the 15 percent imposed on trade competitors such as Japan and South Korea.

Following notification from the U.S. government of the 20 percent tariff rate on Taiwanese goods, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said in a Facebook post later that day that the new round of negotiations on the U.S. tariff policy had achieved a "phased result." The tariff rate was reduced from 32 percent to 20 percent.

However, Lai noted that as final talks have yet to be concluded, a definitive tariff rate has not been determined, making the 20 percent rate only "tentative" for now.

Also, a Taiwan-U.S. economic and trade task force led by Cheng said following the U.S. announcement of the 20 percent tariff that the rate was "temporary" because Taiwan and the U.S. had not concluded talks by the Aug. 1 deadline for countries to reach agreements with the U.S. on tariff reductions.

The two sides are now planning the next round of talks to reach an agreement and reduce the tariff, it said.