Tai Declines to Endorse Taiwan FTA Negotiations, Completing UK, Kenya Deals

In written questions to U.S. trade representative nominee Katherine Tai, she was pressed to argue for U.S. agricultural export interests around the world, and asked how China could be moved to meet more of its promises to buy American exports, agricultural and otherwise.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., told her that due to China's industrial policies, it's nearly cornered the entire solar supply chain. “The Chinese Government committed to open its market to US polysilicon exports as part of 'Phase 1', but so far it has broken that commitment. How will you prioritize a resolution to this issue?” Tai, in written answers that have not yet been posted publicly at the Senate Finance Committee site, said, “If confirmed, I will make resolving this issue, as well as other unfulfilled commitments of the Phase One Agreement, an important part of my engagement with Chinese trade officials.”

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, asked her if she's concerned that because China is such a large buyer of U.S. semiconductors, it may have outsized market power to get sellers to accept its terms. “I share your concern that China may possess market power in certain sectors, and I am particularly concerned about those sectors where firms controlled by China’s state are the dominant purchasers, including the semiconductor sector. If confirmed, I commit to consult closely with Congress on this important issue,” she said.

Several members of the Senate Finance Committee asked Tai to say if the negotiations begun by the previous administration with the United Kingdom and Kenya would be concluded after she takes over. In her written answers, which have not yet been publicly posted, she, again, avoided answering directly.

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., referred to Tai's Taiwanese background in asking her, “Do you view a trade agreement with Taiwan to be an important national security approach in counteracting China?” She replied, “Deepening trade and economic ties can be a valuable means to address the strategic rivalry with China. However, whether a trade agreement actually does so will turn on the precise provisions of the agreement itself and the supply chain patterns in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., added her voice to the arguments that the U.S. should accept a South African and Indian proposal at the World Trade Organization to lift patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines and medicines (see 2102260053).

“Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic is the top priority of the Biden Administration. I recognize the critical importance of ensuring widespread access to lifesaving vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, treatments, and other key products worldwide in order to counter the pandemic and enable global economic recovery,” Tai said, but she did not commit to ending the U.S. opposition to the TRIPS waiver at the WTO, saying she would examine the proposal “to determine its efficacy in enhancing our global health security and saving lives.”

Email ECDNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the questions and written responses.