Premier Yu calls for more FTAs during NY stopover
Taipei Times
Premier Yu calls for more FTAs during NY stopover
CNA , MANAGUA AND NEW YORK
23 August 2004
Premier Yu Shyi-kun encouraged local enterprises Saturday to invest in
Central American countries that continue to maintain diplomatic
relations with Taiwan, saying this will help the government maintain the
ties.
Speaking at a breakfast meeting with reporters after concluding a visit
to the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua, Yu said that because
of these countries’ close proximity to the North American market and the
export preferences granted to them by the US, investing in Central
America can be profitable.
Taiwan is hoping to sign more free trade agreements (FTA) with countries
in the region, he said. Taiwan secured an FTA with Panama last year.
FTAs give businesses with preferential tax and tariff treatment on raw-material
transport and semi-manufactured products.
On Yu’s stopover in New York, he mentioned that he was eager to sign an
FTA with the US.
Addressing a dinner party hosted by Taiwanese expatriates, Yu said that
Taiwan hopes to sign FTA’s with its trading partners. An FTA with the US
is key, because many countries are taking the US as their guide when
negotiating such agreements with Taiwan, he said.
Yu urged Taiwanese expatriates in the US to join efforts to make the US
administration and Congress aware of Taiwan’s position on FTAs.
The premier also called on the US to recognize Taiwan’s importance and
extend more support.
During the same event in New York, William Brown, chairman of the
American Institute in Taiwan, praised Taiwan for its progress in a range
of areas.
Brown said he shares Yu’s views and promised to support Taiwan’s efforts.
Yu arrived in New York earlier that day for a three-day transit stopover
on his way back to Taiwan. He is scheduled to leave New York on Aug. 23.
