GYEONGJU, South Korea, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Technical

consultations for Taiwan-U.S. trade talks have been "largely

finalised" and document exchanges are now underway, Taiwan's

delegation to the APEC summit in South Korea said on Friday,

marking progress in the protracted discussions.

Taiwan's exports to the United States are subject to a 20%

tariff and while negotiations to reduce the tariff are ongoing,

no final agreement has been reached. Semiconductors, a key

Taiwanese export, are currently excluded from the tariffs.

In a statement, the Taiwanese delegation to the Asia-Pacific

Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea's Gyeongju

said Taiwan's top trade negotiator, Jenni Yang, had met with

U.S. Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer on Thursday.

The two officials exchanged views on key topics, including

ways to further strengthen economic and trade relations between

Taiwan and the United States, it added.

"Technical consultations for the Taiwan-U.S. reciprocal

trade negotiations have been largely finalised, with document

exchanges currently underway," the statement said.

"Both sides reviewed the progress and expressed their shared

anticipation for deeper collaboration to promote industrial

growth and economic development for both Taiwan and the United

States."

The United States Trade Representative Office did not

immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside of

Washington office hours.

Taiwan, which dominates the production of advanced

semiconductors powering the AI boom, has rejected a proposal

floated in U.S. media last month by U.S. Secretary of Commerce

Howard Lutnick for a 50-50 split in making chips.

But Taiwan has said it is considering forming a high-tech

strategic partnership with the U.S., which wants increased

Taiwanese investment.

Taiwan, home to the world's biggest contract chipmaker TSMC

, runs a large trade surplus with the United States.

APEC is one of the few international forums in which

Chinese-claimed Taiwan is able to participate. However, it does

not send its president to the summit to avoid political problems

with Beijing and host nations, none of which have formal

diplomatic ties with Taipei.

The summit also serves as a venue for Taiwanese and U.S.

officials to talk.

Taiwan's APEC delegation said Science Minister Wu Cheng-wen

met with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

Allison Hooker and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia

and Pacific Affairs Michael DeSombre.

"Both sides discussed the importance of the Taiwan-U.S.

partnership, particularly in the context of ensuring peace and

stability across the Taiwan Strait and furthering shared

economic prosperity," it added.