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Taiwan

Taiwan actively seeks bilateral free trade agreements, though it is hampered in this effort by its status vis-a-vis China. It has FTAs already with Panama (2003), Guatemala (2005), Nicaragua (2006), El Salvador (2007) and Honduras (2007). It is negotiating with Dominican Republic and Paraguay. And it hopes to negotiate further deals with Costa Rica, Israel, Swaziland, Japan, the US of course, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Mexico. Taipei’s emphasis on Central American countries as FTA partners is to gain access to the US market under NAFTA and CAFTA. But now Taiwan is in talks with China for a possible FTA following the signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) between the two governments in 2010.

last update: May 2012
Photo: simonwai/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0


Cut wages, sign FTAs, says pro-industry forum
Industrial heavyweights yesterday urged the government to speed up the signing of free-trade agreements with major trading partners and take concrete steps to make the nation more business-friendly.
DPP lawmaker calls for more research on critical issues
Systematic research and policy formulation on critical issues such as free-trade agreements (FTA) are important for Taiwan and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), according to DPP Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim
Ma touts FTAs as way to revive flagging economy
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday pledged to speed up trade liberalization and raise the nation’s international competitiveness by seeking to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership within the next eight years and signing free-trade agreements with major trade partners.
Taiwan should not rush trade pact negotiations: minister
Taiwan should not rush negotiations on free trade agreements (FTAs) with its trade partners, the head of the Council for Economic Planning and Development said Wednesday, in light of upcoming trade talks among China, Japan and South Korea.
Taiwan, South Korea start talks on investment pact
Taiwan has started talks with South Korea on a bilateral investment protection agreement, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Francis Liang said Friday.
VP Siew touts importance of trade liberalization
Taiwan will pursue an economic alliance with Japan and up its pace of trade liberalization to overcome challenges arising from planned free trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region, according to ROC Vice President Vincent C. Siew May 15.
Taiwan-New Zealand free trade talks to begin soon
Taiwan will officially begin free trade talks with New Zealand "in the near future," Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday, following the recent completion of a joint feasibility study into a bilateral economic cooperation agreement.
Taiwan-New Zealand free trade talks to begin soon
Taiwan will officially begin free trade talks with New Zealand "in the near future," Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday, following the recent completion of a joint feasibility study into a bilateral economic cooperation agreement.
Taiwan should join trade pact: Ma
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said the trilateral negotiations on free-trade agreements (FTA) between China, South Korea and Japan has put great pressure on Taiwan, and that he expects the nation to join the potential new free-trade zone in Northeast Asia.
Taiwan-New Zealand free trade talks to begin
Taiwan and New Zealand have completed a joint feasibility study into a bilateral economic cooperation agreement (ECA) and will officially start free trade talks in the near future, Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang said Saturday.