Formal launch of negotiations on an EU-Taiwan bilateral investment agreement

6.1.2021

Question for written answer  E-000052/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Barry Andrews (Renew)

Taiwan is the EU’s sixth largest trading partner in Asia. The EU is also the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) for Taiwan.

In 2015, Commissioner Malmström’s ‘Trade for All’ strategy highlighted the relevance of the Asia Pacific region for European economic interests. As part of its Asia strategy, the communication stated that ‘the EU will explore launching negotiations on investment with Taiwan’ so that EU investors can benefit from a broader network of investment agreements in the region.

Since then, the Commission has indicated that it will not launch formal negotiations on an EU-Taiwan bilateral investment agreement until the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment has been concluded.

On 30 December 2020, an agreement in principle was reached on the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment.

Does this mean that the Commission is now prepared to launch negotiations on an EU-Taiwan bilateral investment agreement? If so, what timeline is envisaged for this process?