At a World Trade Institute webinar today, Taiwanese Minister without Portfolio John Deng, who leads Taiwan's trade negotiations, and several other trade experts discussed a number of aspects of Taiwan's trade policy and the U.S.-Taiwan 21st Century Trade Initiative.

On the sideline of the WTO's Ministerial Conference last week, U.S. officials and politicians met with Taiwan's trade officials to discuss upcoming trade talks and tax arrangements.

Taiwan elected its new leader, Ching-te (William) Lai (賴清德), at a time when its trade relationship with mainland China has been strained. Lai's past statements about trade raise the possibility of a deepening rift with China.

At today's press conference, the spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) commented on recent developments in trade relations with Taiwan, the anti-dumping investigation on EU brandy, and Western export controls on semiconductor equipment.

In recent weeks, Beijing has invoked the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law and imposed sanctions on U.S. companies and individuals for supporting "Taiwan independence" and Xinjiang-related sanctions. This is one of the few times when the invocation of China's anti-foreign sanctions law has led to concrete measures.

After completing negotiations on an investment agreement a couple months ago, Taiwan and Canada signed the agreement at the end of December.

As the result of a recently completed trade barriers investigation, Beijing announced that it would suspend tariff concessions to Taiwan under the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). The scope of the suspension is very limited, although it may serve as an early warning for further restrictions down the road.