Incorporate Taiwan into economic partnership

To the editor:

I want to give kudos to Heather Hora for writing and presenting a thoughtful and reasoned article regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership ('Support the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” April 9). However, analysts mostly agree that a regional free-trade agreement without Taiwan would be inconceivable, as Taiwan last year vaulted over India and Saudi Arabia to become the 10th largest trading partner of the United States as the two-way trade volume reached $63.6 billion.

Take the close Iowa-Taiwan economic relations, for example, in 2013, Iowa's exports to Taiwan reached $97.5 million, making Taiwan Iowa's 5th largest export market in Asia, and 15th largest export market in the world. Though a small country with a population of 23 million, Taiwan has the potential to become a strong export market for Iowa. Taiwan is a major importer of U.S. agriculture goods, and regularly dispatches agriculture missions to the United States. Other sectors such as the Iowa's strong wind energy sector has potential for bilateral cooperation as well and to promote cross border growth stretching from Iowa, via Taiwan, into Asia and China.

Incorporating Taiwan into the TPP would be strengthening the economic pillar of the U.S. rebalancing strategy to the Asia Pacific. President Barack Obama needs to work with congressional leadership to swiftly pass 'fast-track” authorization to conclude the TPP and then work toward including Taiwan. Taiwan's inclusion would benefit Iowa's economy and the U.S.

Kent Wang

Advisory commissioner for the Overseas Chinese Affairs Council of Republic of China (Taiwan) in the United States

Potomac Falls, Va.