Taiwan’s priority list more comprehensive than China’s: MOEA
Focus Taiwan News Channel
Taiwan’s priority list more comprehensive than China’s: MOEA
By S.Y. Lin and Flor Wang
22 April 2010
Taipei, April 22 (CNA) A priority "early harvest" list prepared by Taiwan as part of negotiations on an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China is more comprehensive than China’s, Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang said Thursday.
Fielding questions from ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Lee Ching-hua at a legislative committee meeting, Shih said the number of items and their total export value to be put forward by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) at the negotiating table will certainly be higher than China’s, based on a proportional principle due to the difference in size of the two markets. Commenting on a local media report that Taiwan will present a list containing 300 to 500 items, far short of China’s list of more than 700 items, Shih described it as sheer speculation, while also pointing out that China has repeatedly said that it will make more concessions concerning the "early harvest lists" in the ECFA talks.
Taiwan and China are slated to hold the next round of ECFA talks in May or June in China. Both sides have reiterated their resolve to clinch the agreement the sooner the better.
The two sides have tried hard to arrive at an "early harvest list, " which will contain items of trade that will enjoy immediate tariff reduction or elimination after the agreement is signed.
Turning to a proposal by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that a referendum should be held to allow the public to decide the fate of the cross-Taiwan Strait trade pact, Shih contended that it will not be necessary, as most democratic governments around the world sign free trade agreements without the need for referendums.
"But whether or not a referendum should be called to serve that end must be handled in line with the Referendum Law," he added.
"The Executive Yuan is responsible for the ECFA, and will submit the accord to the Legislative Yuan for screening once the deal is signed," Shih said.
