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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


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.
Taiwan makes lemonade from SKorea-US FTA
The news this week that the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement came into force sent jitters through the ranks of Taiwan exporters. It is no secret that the island’s businesses have been doing it tough recently, and the last thing needed was more pain in sectors where they have been fighting hard to remain competitive.
Taiwan-Singapore free trade talks in progress: premier
Premier Sean Chen rebutted Friday speculations that the free trade talks between Taiwan and Singapore have been delayed, saying they are in progress.
Taiwan eyes more trade pacts with major partners
Fast-tracking free trade agreement negotiations with Taiwan’s major partners will be a top priority for the Ministry of Economic Affairs, MOEA Minister Shih Yen-shiang said Feb. 1.
Taiwan, Israel to set up free-trade pact working group
Highlighting its determination to enhance trade ties with foreign partners, the Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday announced that Taiwan and Israel had reached a consensus over the establishment of a working group to study the feasibility of signing a free-trade agreement (FTA) by 2013.