
Taiwan meets with US for tariff talks in South Korea
FILE PHOTO: A U.S. flag and a "tariffs" label are seen in this illustration taken April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
TAIPEI (Reuters) -The main Taiwan and U.S. trade representatives met in South Korea for trade negotiations, yielding optimism that further talks would lead to reduced U.S. tariffs on Taiwan exports, the island's Vice-Premier Cheng Li-chiun said on Friday.
At a news conference marking Premier Cho Jung-tai's first year in office, Cheng said chief Taiwan negotiator Jenni Yang reported "good bilateral talks" in which both sides shared expectations of future Taiwan-U.S. economic cooperation and continued talks ahead.
The Taiwan government confirmed in a statement that Yang met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's trade meeting on Jeju Island.
"Taiwan is confident it can reach trade balance by increasing purchases from the U.S.," Cheng said, adding that the U.S. is now the top overseas investment destination for Taiwan.
Taiwan was facing U.S. import tariffs of 32% on its products under U.S. President Donald Trump's new tariff policies, before Trump paused the plan last month for 90 days.
Taiwan has since begun tariff talks with Washington, promising to purchase more U.S. goods and invest more in America to achieve more balanced trade.
(Reporting by Faith Hung and Emily Chan; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Malay Mail
16 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Sources: US-China trade truce shaky as military-use rare earth export dispute remains unresolved
China withholding export of certain military-use rare earth materials China negotiators in London appeared to link rare earths export to US AI chip curbs Trump administration faces challenges due to China's rare earths control US signalled possible extension to current tariffs beyond August 10 deadline, sources say BEIJING, June 15 — The renewed US-China trade truce struck in London left a key area of export restrictions tied to national security untouched, an unresolved conflict that threatens a more comprehensive deal, two people briefed on detailed outcomes of the talks told Reuters. Beijing has not committed to grant export clearance for some specialised rare-earth magnets that US military suppliers need for fighter jets and missile systems, the people said. The United States maintains export curbs on China's purchases of advanced artificial intelligence chips out of concern that they also have military applications. At talks in London last week, China's negotiators appeared to link progress in lifting export controls on military-use rare earth magnets with the longstanding US curbs on exports of the most advanced AI chips to China. That marked a new twist in trade talks that began with opioid trafficking, tariff rates and China's trade surplus, but have since shifted to focus on export controls. In addition, US officials also signalled they are looking to extend existing tariffs on China for a further 90 days beyond the August 10 deadline agreed in Geneva last month, both sources said, suggesting a more permanent trade deal between the world's two largest economies is unlikely before then. The two people who spoke to Reuters about the London talks requested not to be named because both sides have tightly controlled disclosure. The White House, State Department and Department of Commerce did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China's Foreign and Commerce ministries did not respond to faxed requests for comment. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the handshake deal reached in London between American and Chinese negotiators was a 'great deal,' adding, 'we have everything we need, and we're going to do very well with it. And hopefully they are too.' And US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there would be no 'quid pro quo' on easing curbs on exports of AI chips to China in exchange for access to rare earths. China chokehold But China's chokehold on the rare earth magnets needed for weapons systems remains a potential flashpoint. China dominates global production of rare earths and holds a virtual monopoly on refining and processing. A deal reached in Geneva last month to reduce bilateral tariffs from crushing triple-digit levels had faltered over Beijing's restrictions on critical minerals exports that took shape in April. That prompted the Trump administration to respond with export controls preventing shipments of semiconductor design software, jet engines for Chinese-made planes and other goods to China. At the London talks, China promised to fast-track approval of rare-earth export applications from non-military US manufacturers out of the tens of thousands currently pending, one of the sources said. Those licenses will have a six-month term. Beijing also offered to set up a 'green channel' for expediting license approvals from trusted US companies. Initial signals were positive, with Chinese rare-earths magnet producer JL MAG Rare-Earth, saying on Wednesday it had obtained export licences that included the United States, while China's Commerce Ministry confirmed it had approved some 'compliant applications' for export licences. But China has not budged on specialised rare earths, including samarium, which are needed for military applications and are outside the fast-track agreed in London, the two people said. Automakers and other manufacturers largely need other rare earth magnets, including dysprosium and terbium. Big issues remain The rushed trade meeting in London followed a call last week between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump said US tariffs would be set at 55 per cent for China, while China had agreed to 10 per cent from the United States. Trump initially imposed tariffs on China as punishment for its massive trade surplus to the United States and over what he says is Beijing's failure to stem the flow of the powerful opioid fentanyl into the US Chinese analysts are pessimistic about the likelihood of further breakthroughs before the August 10 deadline agreed in Geneva. 'Temporary mutual accommodation of some concerns is possible but the fundamental issue of the trade imbalance cannot be resolved within this timeframe, and possibly during Trump's remaining term,' said Liu Weidong, a US-China expert at the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. An extension of the August deadline could allow the Trump administration more time to establish an alternative legal claim for setting higher tariffs on China under the Section 301 authority of the USTR in case Trump loses the ongoing legal challenge to the tariffs in US court, one of the people with knowledge of the London talks said. The unresolved issues underscore the difficulty the Trump administration faces in pushing its trade agenda with China because of Beijing's control of rare earths and its willingness to use that as leverage with Washington, said Ryan Hass, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution. 'It has taken the Trump team a few punches in the nose to recognise that they will no longer be able to secure another trade agreement with China that disproportionately addresses Trump's priorities,' Hass said. — Reuters


Free Malaysia Today
21 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Johor police chief denies receiving aid from ‘Datuk', blames AI for fake image
M Kumar said police view the misuse of technology, including AI, for fraudulent or defamatory purposes seriously as it could tarnish a party's reputation. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Johor police chief M Kumar tonight denied that he had received aid from one 'Datuk Abdul Malik' after a video clip featuring a man resembling him made its rounds on social media. Kumar said the video had used an artificial intelligence-generated image, Bernama reported. 'The claim in the video that I had deposited the funds into a bank account is fake and baseless,' he was quoted as saying. A report was subsequently lodged by an officer from the Johor police to enable an investigation under Section 419 and Section 420 of the Penal Code for impersonation and cheating, respectively. The case is also being probed under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities. Kumar said Johor police viewed the misuse of technology, including AI, for fraudulent or defamatory purposes seriously as it could tarnish the reputation of any party. He also advised the public against sharing the video, and urged those with information to come forward and assist with the investigation.


The Sun
30 minutes ago
- The Sun
Iran does not want conflict with Israel to expand but will defend itself, foreign minister says
DUBAI: Iran does not want its conflict with Israel to expand to neighbouring countries unless the situation is forced, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday, adding its response had been based on self-defence. Araqchi said Tehran had been responding to foreign aggression, and that if this aggression stopped, Iranian reactions would also cease. The foreign minister said the Israeli strikes on the offshore South Pars gas field Iran shares with Qatar were 'a blatant aggression and a very dangerous act'. 'Dragging the conflict to the Persian Gulf is a strategic mistake, and its aim is to drag the war beyond Iranian territory,' he said. The foreign minister accused Israel of seeking to sabotage ongoing Iran-U.S. nuclear talks, which according to him could have opened the way for an agreement. Tehran was set to present a proposal this Sunday during a sixth round of talks, which were cancelled following recent escalations. 'Israel's attack would never have happened without the U.S. green light and support,' Araqchi said, adding Tehran does not believe American statements that Washington had taken no part in recent attacks. 'It is necessary for the United States to condemn Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities if they want to prove their goodwill.'