Taiwan's top trade negotiator John Deng says Taiwan is determined to join the CPTPP free trade bloc. Deng made the statement on Tuesday, less than a week after Taiwan signed a new trade initiative with the United States.

The CPTPP is the world's largest free trade agreement as measured by member states' GDP. Taiwan applied to join the trade agreement last September, a few days after China had sent its own bid.

Deng says Taiwan's semiconductor industry has been invaluable during the pandemic, making Taiwan even more attractive to the CPTPP. He says lifting the import bans on ractopamine-fed pork and food from Fukushima also proves Taiwan respects international food and trade standards.

Deng added that if China joins the CPTPP before Taiwan, China will block Taiwan's bid. In order to avoid this outcome, he says Taiwan needs to build support from current CPTPP members.

Deng says Taiwan has been a respected member of the World Trade Organization for 20 years, whereas China has been a controversial figure. He emphasized Taiwan's clean record and transparent system makes it a better choice for joining the free trade bloc.

Source: Radio Taiwan International