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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


Experts call pacts ‘window dressing’
The four agreements signed by Taipei and Beijing last November were nothing but “window dressing,” experts attending a cross-strait forum said yesterday, urging the government to pressure Beijing to quit blocking other countries from signing free-trade agreements (FTA) with Taiwan as both sides mull an economic pact.
Taiwan looks to enhance trade with EU
A free trade agreement expected to be inked soon between South Korea and the European Union threatens to leave Taiwan at a disadvantage in expanding trade with Europe, but the government hopes potential trade enhancement measures will offset the blow.
Ma calls for fresh talks on FTA with Singapore
President Ma Ying-jeou says he expects Taiwan to sign a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Singapore.
MAC does not expect pact on investments from PRC
Taipei and Beijing may not sign an agreement on investment from China in local businesses during their upcoming high-level talks, but will in any case issue a joint statement on the issue, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday.
Taiwan pursuing free trade pacts with ASEAN states
Taiwan is pushing for bilateral free trade agreements with individual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members as a more feasible way for the country to participate in regional economic integration
Ma calls for signing FTA between Taiwan and Peru
Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou expressed the hope of signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with Peru to enhance bilateral trade, in an interview with a Peruvian business newspaper published Tuesday.
Vice president touts benefits of Taiwan-ASEAN free trade pact
Vice President Vincent Siew said Saturday that a free trade agreement between Taiwan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would be mutually beneficial in terms of economic development as well as regional peace and stability.
Taiwan wants FTA with EU
Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Yiin Chii-ming, said yesterday that Taiwan wants an FTA with the EU.
Taipei aims to throttle Taiwan-Dominican Free Trade Deal
Taiwan president Ying Jeou Ma today said he’s interested in accelerating talks for a Free Trade Agreement with Dominican Republic, for which his country’s representatives were already instructed to expedite them.
Taiwan-Honduras free trade pact goes into effect
Taiwan’s free trade agreement (FTA) with Honduras has gone into effect, further expanding trade ties between Taipei and Tegucigalpa, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.