Taiwan Today

Preparatory meetings for the fourth round of talks between Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation and the mainland’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait will begin in Fuzhou next week, according the SEF Dec. 3 Kao Koong-lian, vice chairman of the SEF, will lead a delegation to meet with his mainland counterpart Zheng Zhongli Dec. 9. The two men will exchange views on the parameters of the fourth round of talks between SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-ng and ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin. Chen’s itinerary will also be part of the discussion, the SEF said. The Chiang-Chen talks will take place at Taichung’s Windsor Hotel from Dec. 21 to 25. ARATS delegates will also visit some of the famous tourist attractions in central and southern Taiwan, such as Sun Moon Lake. While campaigning for the local KMT candidate in Changhua County Dec. 3, Chiang said the agenda for the fifth-round of SEF-ARATS talks will be decided at the upcoming Taichung meeting. He expects to conclude negotiations for the proposed economic cooperation framework agreement with Beijing in the fifth round of cross-strait dialogue. “But there is no timetable for the signing of the ECFA,” Chiang added. Major issues to be addressed at the December talks include cooperation on the setting of industry standards and certificates, inspection and quarantine of agricultural products, avoidance of double taxation and fishing-related labor affairs. According to sources familiar with the matter, the content of the Taichung talks will be finalized once the preparatory meetings are completed. With regard to the avoidance of double taxation, the two sides are likely to adopt the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s model of taxation distribution and tariff reductions. In addition, tax incentives for Taiwan businessmen will also be discussed. It is believed that high-tech companies such as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. are likely to be the major beneficiaries once a consensus is reached on taxation issues. Product standardization, metrology, inspections, certifications and consumer product safety will be covered under the umbrella of industry standards and certificates during the talks. Specifications for electronic books and high-tech products are unlikely to be dealt with individually. (LC-THN)