US, Taiwan sign trade deal aims to strengthen economic ties

The United States and Taiwan on Thursday have signed a trade deal aims to strengthen economic ties between both countries and open Taiwan to more US exports. The announcement comes ahead of a high-level global security summit in Singapore this weekend.

Taiwan’s government has described the deal as the most comprehensive trade agreement signed with Washington since 1979.

Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning warned the United States earlier against signing any pact with connotations of sovereignty or of an official nature with China’s Taiwan region.

It said the US must not send the wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces in the name of trade. In recent years, the relationship between the US and China has become increasingly strained.