TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan and the UK held trade talks on issues including digital trade, investment, renewable energy, and reducing carbon emissions, a Taiwanese official said on Wednesday (Nov. 6).

Spokesperson for the Office of Trade Negotiations Ben Hsu (徐崇欽) told Reuters the talks took place in Taipei this week. Hsu added that both sides “do not rule out signing relevant agreements.” 

Britain’s representative office in Taipei said that trade officials were in Taiwan this week for talks on the Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP), but did not provide further details.

Local media reported the trade negotiations were held in a low-key manner and that UK officials who traveled to Taiwan for the talks did not want to publicize them ahead of time. In addition to the topics described by Hsu, the talks focused on small and medium-sized businesses, women and disadvantaged groups, and energy security, an Office of Trade Negotiations official said, per LTN.

The foreign ministry said the UK was Taiwan's most important trade partner in Europe when both sides signed the ETP in November 2023. The foreign ministry said that it would support the Office of Trade Negotiations “in closely working with the UK government to promote substantive economic and trade exchanges.”