Free Trade Pacts With Central American Allies In 18 Months: Official
Central News Agency, Taiwan
Free Trade Pacts With Central American Allies In 18 Months: Official
Taipei, Aug. 26 (CNA) Economic Affairs Vice Minister Chen Ruey-long claimed Thursday that Taiwan will be able to sign free trade agreements (FTAs) with three of its diplomatic allies in the Caribbean and Central America within 18 months. According to Chen, the Ministry of Economic Affairs will launch negotiations with Honduras, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua in the near term, as arrangements are proceeding smoothly. Dismissing a local media report that the three diplomatic partners will demand economic aid in return for clinching the FTAs with Taiwan, Chen ruled out the "dollar diplomacy" allegation and vowed that the aim of the pacts is to promote wide-ranging mutual benefits and help reduce the three countries’ trade deficits with Taiwan. Citing the recently forged Taiwan-Panama FTA as an example, Chen said that the two states have already seen substantive growth in bilateral trade. (By Flor Wang)
