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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


Former vice president to push Taiwan’s TPP bid in Washington
Former Vice President Vincent Siew will lead a business delegation on a visit to the United States later this month to drum up support for Taiwan’s efforts to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), according to Taipei’s representative office in the U.S Wednesday.
ASTEP increases bilateral investment, trade: minister
The economic partnership agreement between Taiwan and Singapore inked yesterday is likely to benefit manufacturing as well as to promote bilateral investment and trade, Economic Affairs Minister Chang Chia-juch (張家祝) said yesterday.
Taiwan, Singapore sign free-trade pact
Taiwan yesterday signed a far-reaching free-trade agreement (FTA) with Singapore — the first of its kind with a Southeast Asian country — in a move the government said would boost the nation’s efforts to pursue further economic engagement with trading partners bilaterally and multilaterally.
Ma praises Taiwan-NZ economic cooperation pact
ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said July 16 that the recently concluded Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC) will further boost bilateral trade and strengthen the nation’s regional economic integration prospects.
Vice economics minister calls for new procedures in FTA talks
Vice Economic Affairs Minister Cho Shih-chao agreed Monday with suggestions that a set of standard operating procedures be established in negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) to strike a balance between confidentiality and open information.
President Ma reiterates hope to join TPP and RCEP
President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday reiterated the administration’s hope to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), in order to allow Taiwan to effectively take part in regional economic integration.
Taiwan trying to secure FTAs with U.S., EU: president
President Ma Ying-jeou has said that his administration has been working toward signing free trade deals with the United States and the European Union, a development that sock manufacturers in Changhua County are eager to see.
Despite promising start, Taiwan misses free trade deals
The island known for moving big batches of electronics to world markets is struggling to keep a toehold in Asia politically and economically against rivals that make the same stuff and have more trade deals, writes the business magazine Forbes
Taiwan hoping to join ASEAN-led trade agreement on WTO model
Taiwan wants to take part in a proposed regional trade agreement but is still assessing the mode of participation and its impact on industry, an official of the Ministry of Economic Affairs said Saturday.
Taiwan to use Mexico, Turkey as detours to trade with U.S., EU
Taiwan will use Mexico and Turkey as gateways to stepping up trade with the United States and the European Union, so as to reduce the impact of the free trade agreements (FTAs) between South Korea and the two major economies, according to the country’s main trade promotion body.