The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations

This resource tracked statements, developments, visits, and other interactions in US-Indo-Pacific relations under the President Trump administration. Special focus was given to the comments and activities of President Donald J. Trump; Vice President Mike Pence; United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr.; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; former Secretary of Defense James Mattis; and former Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper.

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Secretary Pompeo and Secretary Ross's Remarks at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum

USTR Announces FY 2019 WTO Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar

"The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative today announced the country-specific in-quota allocations under the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on imported raw cane sugar for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 (October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019). TRQs allow countries to export specified quantities of a product to the United States at a relatively low tariff, but subject all imports of the product above a pre-determined threshold to a higher tariff. On June 29, 2018, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the establishment of the in-quota quantity…

Secretary Mattis' Remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue - Taiwan

"The Department of Defense remains steadfastly committed to working with Taiwan to provide the defense articles and services necessary to maintain sufficient self-defense consistent with our obligation set out in our Taiwan Relations Act. We oppose all unilateral efforts to alter the status quo, and will continue to insist any resolution of differences accord with the will of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait."

Secretary Pompeo's Remarks During State Department Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Request - North Korea; Taiwan; China; South China Sea

Secretary Pompeo's Remarks During Confirmation Hearing - China; Militants in Southeast Asia; Taiwan; North Korea

President Trump Signs Taiwan Travel Act into Law

Taiwan Travel Act: "The bill states that it should be U.S. policy to: (1) allow U.S. officials at all levels to travel to Taiwan to meet their Taiwanese counterparts; (2) permit high-level Taiwanese officials to enter the United States under respectful conditions and to meet with U.S. officials, including officials from the Departments of State and Defense; and (3) encourage the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office and any other instrumentality established by Taiwan to conduct business in the United States."

U.S. Department of Commerce Issues Affirmative Preliminary Antidumping Duty Determinations on Low Melt Polyster Staple Fiber from Korea and Taiwan

"Today [January 29, 2018], U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of low melt polyester staple fiber from Korea and Taiwan. [...] The Commerce Department preliminarily determined that exporters from Korea and Taiwan have sold low melt polyester staple fiber in the United States at 0.00 to 16.48 percent and 52.00 percent less than fair value, respectively. As a result of today’s decision, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to…

U.S. Department of Commerce Issues Affirmative Preliminary Antidumping Duty Determinations on Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber from the People's Republic of China (China), India, the Republic of Korea (Korea), and Taiwan

"Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of fine denier polyester staple fiber, finding that exporters from China, India, Korea, and Taiwan have sold this merchandise at less than fair value. [...] As a result of today’s decision, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of fine denier polyester staple fiber from China (52.66 percent to 170.92 percent), India (0.66 percent to 15.66 percent), Korea…

Department of Commerce Investigates China and Taiwan

"Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the initiation of new antidumping duty (AD) investigations to determine whether imports of forged steel fittings from China, Italy and Taiwan are being dumped in the United States, and a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation to determine whether producers of forged steel fittings in China are receiving alleged unfair subsidies."