Taiwan’s Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun remains in Washington this week for a fourth round of face-to-face negotiations aimed at limiting the reciprocal tariffs the United States plans to impose on many trading partners from 1 August, according to a Cabinet statement carried by the Central News Agency. Taipei is seeking a levy lower than the 15% rate granted to Japan and markedly below the 25% level set for South Korea, people familiar with the talks said. The government said Cheng’s mandate is to safeguard national and industrial interests, protect public health and food security, and promote a more balanced bilateral trade relationship that would also expand cooperation in technology and security. Washington announced the new tariff framework earlier this year as part of its broader push for ‘equal’ treatment in trade. With the deadline days away, the outcome of the negotiations will determine the cost structure for Taiwanese exports and could influence supply-chain decisions in sectors such as beef, poultry, pork and automobiles, which mainland China has highlighted as politically sensitive.