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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 and Vietnam to start talks on new investment agreement
Vietnam has agreed to start talks on a new Taiwan-Vietnam Bilateral Investment Agreement to provide more protection for Taiwanese businessmen investing in the Southeast Asian country.
Taiwan must open up service sector with TiSA’s arrival
The Taiwanese government has turned its focus to the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) currently being negotiated by 25 countries and regions that account for 70% of the global trade in services.
Taiwan to propose economic cooperation pact with Australia
Following signature of the China-Australia FTA last month, Taiwan will express the idea of signing one with Australia at an upcoming vice ministerial-level trade and economic meeting between the two nations in Taipei.
Official urges signing of Taiwan-EU investment accord
Duh Tyzz-jiun (杜紫軍), minister of the National Development Council (NDC), Thursday called for both Taiwan and the European Union to expedite the process of signing a bilateral investment agreement (BIA).
India delays economic cooperation deal talks
The Indian government has turned down Taiwan’s request to take a further step in advancing an economic cooperation agreement for the time being as it focuses on joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.
More dialogue, fewer fear tactics needed in discussion of FTAs
The government of Taiwan must do a better job to convince the public, instead of relying on “scare tactics,” merely pointing to the hazards that Taiwan will face without FTAs.
Sunflower power stalls Taiwan trade deal
Taiwan’s services trade deal with China sits blocked in Taipei parliament until the government can meet the demands of the Sunflower protest movement.
Groups tell government to stop FTA scare tactics
Several civic groups yesterday accused the Taiwanese government of exaggerating the potential impact of an impending free-trade agreement (FTA) between China and South Korea after the two countries’ leaders concluded talks on the accord at the APEC summit on Monday.
China-South Korea FTA to hurt Taiwan’s industries: official
Vice Economics Minister Cho Shih-chao said Monday that a free trade agreement to be signed in the near future between China and South Korea will have a major adverse impact on Taiwan’s industrial base.