Taiwan, US to reopen stalled trade talks next week

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan and the United States will resume stalled trade talks next week after Taipei removed a six-year ban on some US beef imports, officials said on Wednesday.

The US delegation will be led by Deputy US Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis at the two-day discussions beginning on Monday, the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto embassy, said in a statement.

Negotiations on a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, seen as a precursor to a full free trade agreement, have been dormant since 2007.

The hiatus was prompted when Taiwan banned US beef containing ractopamine, a drug used in animal feed to promote lean meat.