(2012-0978-F) Taiwan

The materials in FOIA 2012-0978-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related material. Taiwan’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) was a topic of intense debate in the 1990’s during the 106th Congress. Several congressmen expressed concern that due to the “One China” policy of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), they would exert political influence over other WTO member states to block Taiwan’s accession. Congressional support for Taiwan’s bid was included in H.R. 4444, a bill to extend permanent normal trade relations status to the PRC. Section 601 of the bill (which was enacted into law on October 10, 2000) states that, immediately after the PRC’s accession, the U.S. representative to the WTO should formally request that Taiwan’s accession be the next order of business. The PRC’s WTO membership was formally approved at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar on November 10, 2001. The very next day, the WTO formally approved Taiwan’s membership, and on December 2, the Taiwanese government notified the WTO that it had ratified its accession agreement. Taiwan joined the international trade body as “the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu,” also known as “Chinese Taipei” on January 1, 2002. This collection consists of emails between National Security Council (NSC) Staffers concerning trade issues with Taiwan and various other States, and numerous cables between the NSC, the Department of State and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). The AIT is a non-profit, private corporation established on the island of Taipei in order to foster commercial, cultural and other relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan. Since the U.S. has non-diplomatic, unofficial relations with Taiwan, the AIT also serves as a liaison between its Taiwanese counterpart organization, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) and various U.S. government agencies. These e-mails and cables concern tarifs, taxes and other trade issues involving agricultural products such as grapes, alcohol, tobacco products, and pork bellies. They also concern manufactured goods such as automobiles and airplanes. Other issues discussed in the cables and e-mails are intellectual property rights, port docking fees and ecological issues such as whale hunting and pollution. The majority of these records related to this FOIA case are closed for national security reasons.