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Taiwan


Taiwan using China trade deal to sell foreign FTAs
Taiwan has leveraged its goal of a landmark trade deal with China to open talks with Japan, the United States and other powers on free trade deals expected to boost the long-isolated island economy, officials said on Friday.
Talk of the day — ECFA debate still raging
The debate on whether Taiwan should sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China continues to rage in local society, as the government has stepped up its efforts to gain public support for the pact and the opposition is pushing for a referendum on the proposed deal.
No timetable for ECFA to become FTA
Many WTO members have expressed support for a China-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement and would be happy to see it happen, says Taiwan’s permanent representative to WTO.
Taiwan seeks closer economic ties with ASEAN
Taiwan is looking to negotiate a free-trade agreement with ASEAN as soon as it accomplishes its historic economic partnership with China, slated to be signed this June, say official and scholars.
DPP rejects ECFA report as ‘false front’
A legislative committee meeting to hear a report on the government’s proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China was postponed again after Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers dismissed the report as a “false front.”
Presidential office defends ECFA plan
The Presidential Office yesterday hit back at critics — including former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) — who said on Saturday that an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) the government is seeking to sign with Beijing this year will undermine Taiwan’s competitiveness.
Taiwan and China to scale down early-harvest lists for ECFA
The number of items on Taiwan’s early harvest list may be further cut to 200-300, about half the amount on the existing draft. Meanwhile, both sides have agreed to incorporate intellectual property into the ECFA
Ma touts the signing of an ECFA
Ma says the Taiwan-China trade deal will create 260,000 jobs if it is signed — and cause the loss of more jobs if it is not.
Fewer jobs for Taiwan OFWs sans RP trade pact
Taiwan-based factories employing Filipinos may move operations to mainland China once the trade pact between China and Taiwan is signed. The Philippines should therefore sign an FTA with Taiwan to tap into the Beijing-Taipei deal, some argue.
Ma wants FTA with Japan
Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou on Thursday expressed his wish to strike a free trade agreement with Japan
China postpones free trade talks with Taiwan
China has postponed a second round of free trade talks with Taiwan until after the Lunar New Year holiday and the Taiwanese side downplayed any political reason for the delay.
ECFA advice for mainland China
The Beijing establishment should ask itself: If the US beef controversy was able to cause such a huge ruckus in Taiwan, how much more horrendous would the situation be if hundreds of mainland agricultural goods were allowed entry?
US scholars see WTO as best path to resolving beef dispute
By taking the case to the WTO, the US will be able to "depoliticize" the issue, a CSIS fellow argues
US official says no basis for renegotiation of beef issue
The US Trade Representative Office said Friday that Taiwan has destroyed its bilateral agreement with the United States on beef imports and there is no basis for renegotiation of the issue.
China and Taiwan to start talks on trade deal
To allay fears about the potential negative impacts of ECFA, Mr Ma’s government has pledged not to open Taiwan to Chinese labour or further agricultural imports. Many Taiwanese, however, remain either unconvinced or indifferent.
Lai: Taiwan is free from China factor over FTAs
Lai Hsingyuan, minister of Mainland Affairs Counsel, noted surprisingly yesterday that ECFA and FTA with other countries are totally different things, and she hadn’t noticed any disturbance from China over the last 20 months.
Consumers’ Foundation demands prion tests on US beef imports
The Consumers’ Foundation demanded Tuesday that the government include prion tests in its inspection of US beef imports to detect any possible bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) contamination of the products.
US lawmakers urge tough line against Taiwan on beef
The United States should not resume trade and investment talks with Taiwan until that country reverses a ban on US beef, a bipartisan group of four senior US lawmakers said on Wednesday.
An ECFA would be bad news for farmers
About 280,000 Taiwanese farmers who grow rice, vegetables and other crops could lose their jobs. This does not account for mushrooms, sugar, flowers, fisheries and forestry, therefore the total number of food producers affected will be much higher.
Taiwan’s hopes rise that China could allow free trade agreements
China has until now barred countries with whom it has diplomatic relations from signing trade pacts with Taiwan, which it does not consider an independent nation.