Taiwan, US to reopen stalled trade talks

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan said on Friday it is set to resume stalled trade talks with the United States early this year, after Taipei lifted a six-year-old ban on some US beef imports.

Taiwan's top economic officials and Mr Demetrios Marantis, deputy US Trade Representative, are expected to meet in Taipei by the end of March, the foreign ministry said.

Negotiations between Washington and Taipei on a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), seen as a precursor to a full-fledged free-trade agreement, have been dormant since 2007.

"We welcome the resumption of TIFA talks and we hope Taiwan and the United States will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperations in trade and the economy," the ministry said in a statement.