Lima: Taiwan’s top trade negotiator Yang Jen-ni announced on Sunday that Taiwan will push to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Lima. Yang emphasized that the meeting provides a significant platform for Taiwan to showcase its commitment to high trade standards.

According to Focus Taiwan, Yang, who is part of the Taiwanese delegation, stated that Taiwan is ready to collaborate with CPTPP members, focusing on a green economy, inclusive growth, and digital economic transformation. She highlighted Taiwan’s intention to enhance exchanges in industrial development, technologies, and talent as part of its strategy to join the trade bloc.

The CPTPP, a major global trade agreement, evolved from the Trans-Pacific Partnership after the United States’ exit in January 2017. The trade bloc consists of 11 signatories: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore,
and Vietnam, and covers 13.5 percent of global trade. The United Kingdom signed the agreement in July 2023, with expectations to finalize its membership by December 15.

Taiwan applied to join the CPTPP on September 22, 2021, shortly after China’s application. Other countries, including Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Ukraine, have also expressed interest in joining. The CPTPP’s Auckland Principles outline the requirements for accession, which include meeting high standards and gaining consensus from existing members.

Yang also addressed potential uncertainties in Taiwan’s trade relations with the U.S., following Donald Trump’s election victory on November 5. Despite this, Taiwan and the U.S. remain in close communication regarding the “U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade,” with an initial agreement signed in June 2023.

Taiwan’s delegation to the APEC meeting includes prominent business leaders who will share insights on the global economic landscape. Lin Hsin-i, Taiwan’s envoy to APEC, will repr
esent President Lai Ching-te at the leaders’ summit, where he will advocate for Taiwan’s role as a responsible international community member.

Taiwan joined APEC in 1991 as “Chinese Taipei,” and this year’s meeting in Lima is centered around the theme “Empower, Include, Grow.”