Gyeongju: Taiwan's top trade negotiator Yang Jen-ni and National Science and Technology Council head Wu Cheng-wen discussed tariffs and other bilateral issues with U.S. officials on the sidelines of the APEC Ministerial Meeting in South Korea, a government source said Friday.

According to Focus Taiwan, Yang, head of Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiation, held a one-on-one meeting with Rick Switzer, U.S. deputy trade representative, on Thursday during the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Gyeongju. The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that Yang and Switzer covered various trade issues, including ongoing discussions over the 20 percent U.S. tariff on Taiwanese goods, which was implemented in early August and which Taiwan is aiming to reduce.

Meanwhile, Wu, who co-led the Taiwan delegation with Yang, conducted two meetings with three U.S. State Department officials. The discussions involved Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jacob Helberg, and Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael DeSombre.

According to the source, during the meetings, Wu expressed Taiwan's intent to enhance cooperation with the U.S. in areas such as talent cultivation, innovative industries, supply chain security, and boosting global leadership in artificial intelligence.