CLA chief to vist Washington on FTA Push

Washington, Apr 14 (UNI) Taiwan's top labor affairs administrator is set to arrive in Washington, DC tomorrow to push for the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, trade sources said.

Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) Chairman Lee Ying-yuan will meet with Bush administration officials, deliver speeches to US think tanks and lobby congressional support for the signing of an FTA during his visit, the sources said yesterday, reports Taiwanese Central News Agency (CNA).

According to the sources, Lee will focus his talks on labor-related topics that are one of the US major concerns in gauging whether to sign an FTA with Taiwan.

Previous US State Department human rights reports have mentioned problems in Taiwan's migrant worker management and welfare services and perks for wage earners. Lee is expected to brief US officials and think tank scholars on Taiwan's labor policy and its efforts to improve welfare benefits for both native wage earners and foreign laborers in the hope of "clarifying misperceptions and misunderstandings." According to Taiwan officials stationed in Washington, DC, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative has never explicitly stated that Taiwan's labor conditions are a hindrance to the signing of an FTA.

The officials also said that Taiwan's Labor Standards Law provides "lofty and adequate norms and standards" for treatment of wage earners.

"We believe that Lee's briefing on our achievements in labor rights protection will contribute to the FTA drive, " said an official from the Taiwan representative office in Washington, DC In an interview with CNA, John C.C. Deng, Taiwan's deputy representative to the United States who will soon depart for home to take over as Taiwan's first top international trade negotiator, said Lee's US visit is a wise move in the promotion of an FTA.

"The push for a Taiwan-US FTA requires concerted efforts of all government departments. It would be very helpful if the heads of various administrative agencies can come to the US capital for direct dialogue with their American counterparts, " Deng said, adding that besides trade and labor departments, the Environmental Protection Administration should also send delegates to Washington, DC for direct communications on Taiwan's needs.

According to Lee's itinerary, he will deliver a speech April 17 on upgrading Asian labor standards at the Center for National Policy, a US think tank dedicated to research and debate on issues of US national interests. He will also attend a seminar at the US Heritage Foundation, another Washington-based think tank.

Before wrapping up his trip April 19, Lee will brief Taiwanese journalists posted in Washington, DC on the purposes and accomplishments of his visit.

UNI