Washington, Sept. 24 (CNA) Taiwan’s strong “democratic values” will become a factor in the assessment of its candidacy to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 11 countries, the department said on Friday. ‘American state.

During an online press briefing with the New York Foreign Press Center, Ned Price, spokesperson for the US State Department, said Taiwan has been shown to be a responsible member of the World Trade Organization (WTO ).

In addition to his record at the WTO, Price said he expected “Taiwan’s strong adherence to democratic values ​​to take into account CPTPP parties’ assessment of Taiwan as a potential candidate for election. membership ”.

However, Price stressed that Taiwan’s decision to join the trade bloc will be made by its member states. The United States is not a member.

Price made the comments when asked for the United States’ response after China and Taiwan submitted their own requests to join the CPTPP this month.

On Wednesday, Taiwan applied to join the CPTPP under the name of “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu”, through its representative in New Zealand who sent the membership form to country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Taiwan’s request to join the trade deal came after the UK submitted its own request in February and just days after China followed suit on September 16.

China strongly opposed Taiwan’s offer to join the CPTPP, while Japan expressed welcome, saying the trade bloc allows an economy, like Taiwan, to join it as an independent customs territory.

New Zealand is acting as the custodian of the Pacific Rim Trade Pact and will be responsible for forwarding the request to all member states.

The CPTPP Free Trade Agreement was signed in March 2018 by Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, and entered into force at the end of the same year, having been ratified by more than half of the 11 signatories.

It replaced its predecessor, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, after the United States withdrew in 2017 under the administration of Donald Trump. The CPTPP is now led by Japan.

Price said the United States does not have an immediate plan to join the CPTPP, but the Biden administration is still reviewing it to assess its consistency with its program to revitalize the country’s economy.

As to China’s decision to apply for CPTPP membership, Price said the United States expects China’s non-market trade practices and its use of economic coercion against other countries. serve as a factor in its member states’ assessment of the country as a potential candidate in the trading bloc.

Meanwhile, Price reiterated that the United States will continue to support a peaceful resolution of the issues across the Taiwan Strait that will be in accordance with the wishes and best interests of the people of Taiwan.

“We urge Beijing to end its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in a constructive dialogue with Taiwan,” Price said.

After Taiwan applied for membership in the CPTPP, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said on her Facebook page that joining the trade bloc had become an important external strategic goal for the country.

Tsai said Taiwan’s candidacy shows he is confident enough to take such a step to expand his reach around the world.

In a recent interview with CNA, Roy Lee (李淳), deputy executive director of WTO Taiwan and the RTA Center of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), said the request for Membership in the CPTPP is essential and necessary for Taiwan. for now, adding that if the country did not apply at that time, the likelihood of it joining the bloc would recede.