TAIWAN TO HOLD 2ND ROUND OF FTA TALKS WITH EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS

2006-07-16

Taipei, July 16 (CNA) — The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced Sunday that a second round of free trade agreement (FTA) talks with El Salvador and Honduras was scheduled to kick off the following day in San Francisco.

Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Ruey-long will head the Taiwan delegation at the talks, MOFA officials said.

Taiwan began FTA talks with El Salvador and Honduras in May. The first round of talks proceeded smoothly and all relevant parties reached consensus on key points, the officials said.

If all goes well, the officials said, Taiwan will be able to sign free trade agreements with El Salvador and Honduras by the end of this year, which would facilitate Taiwan companies’ bids to enter the the U.S. market via Central America.

With FTAs between the United States and Central American countries taking effect, the officials said Taiwan hopes to turn Central America into a free trade zone for Taiwanese businessmen by signing FTAs with each of its Central American allies to give preferential tariff treatment on goods entering the vast U.S. market.

(By Taijing Wu)