Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. and the American Institute in Taiwan exchanged a signed letter of intent on establishing a Baggage Screening Facilitation program at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport June 25 in Arlington, Virginia.
Inked earlier by TECRO Deputy Rep. Louis M. Huang and AIT Managing Director John J. Norris Jr., the LOI exchange took place during a ceremony held at AIT headquarters. Attendees included Huang Yu-lin, deputy minister of transportation and communications; Eric Sarandrea, executive adviser with the Transportation Security Administration under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and Daniel K. Delk, acting director of the Office of Taiwan Coordination under the U.S. Department of State.
According to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the program exempts from screening U.S.-originating hold baggage bound for third jurisdictions via Taiwan. It makes for easier passenger transits and improves operational efficiency at the country’s main gateway in northern Taiwan, the MOTC added.
The BSF program represents the success of trial carried out since March 2018 at San Francisco and Seattle airports by MOTC’s Civil Aeronautics Administration and TSA. It is also expected to pave the way for Taiwan’s designation as a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Preclearance location, increasing convenience for Taiwan passport holders traveling to the U.S.
TERCO, which described the program as another example of Taiwan-U.S. cooperation, said it is testament to the enduring partnership enjoyed by the like-minded partners in the 40th year of the Taiwan Relations Act. (SFC-E)
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