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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 signs FTA with Guatemala, eyeing more exports to US market
aiwan President Chen Shui-bian signed a free trade agreement with his Guatemalan counterpart Oscar Berger in Guatemala City on Thursday in a bid to use the Central American country as a gateway for more exports to the North American market.
Taiwan, Guatemala expected to ink free trade accord before Oct
Visiting Guatemalan President Oscar Berger said Tuesday that he expects a Taiwan-Guatemala free trade accord (FTA) to be signed in September or October.
Assessment shows trade pact danger
A Taiwanese government report argues that increased economic integration between China, Japan and South Korea could threaten the nation
President Hopes to sign FTA with Guatemala in August
President Chen Shui-bian said Monday that Guatemalan President Ocar Berger Perdomo has agreed to visit Taiwan in August and that he hopes to sign a Taiwan-Guatemala free trade agreement (FTA) with him by that time.
Taiwan needs free trade agreement with US to ward off China: Chen
Taiwan desperately needs a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States to protect itself against rival China’s growing economic dominance, the island’s President Chen Shui-bian told a visiting US senator.
FTA preferable to common market, minister insists
The government will negotiate with Beijing to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) under the auspices of the WTO, rather than creating a cross-strait "common market," Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh said yesterday.
Taiwan hoping to start negotiations on free trade agreement with Malaysia
Taiwan is pushing for a free trade agreement (FTA) with Malaysia in an attempt to further prop up substantive ties between the two countries.
FTA with Taiwan seen benefiting Thailand
Manik Mehta argues that Taiwan and Thailand would do well to cement their existing partnership with the formal adoption of a free-trade agreement.
Paraguayan FTA safe: government
Government officials yesterday dismissed a report that the proposed free-trade agreement (FTA) between Taiwan and its diplomatic ally Paraguay is in jeopardy, due to pressure from other members of Mercosur, a South American trade bloc of which Paraguay is a member.
Taiwan calls for free trade pact with Japan
Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh called on Japan to strike a bilateral free trade agreement, saying such a pact will be "very beneficial to Japan."