Taiwan Today

Taipei and Beijing could sign the cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement by July, provided that the early-harvest list under negotiation focuses on items that both sides can easily agree upon, officials said March 31. The two-day, second round of negotiations between Taipei and Beijing over the economic cooperation framework agreement began March 31 at the Ta Shee Resort in northern Taiwan. On April 1 the two sides are expected to enter into discussions over the goods and services early-harvest list for tariff exemptions, as well as the contents of the agreement, sources said. Huang Chih-peng, director-general of the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Taiwan’s main representative at the talks, said he hoped the mainland side would demonstrate good will during the negotiations. He noted that as the ECFA is anticipated to have an enormous impact on Taiwan’s economy, misgivings remain strong, especially among farmers and those working in traditional labor-intensive sectors. The mainland side is called upon to be understanding and to pay heed to these concerns. Tang Wei, mainland China’s chief representative at the talks, said his side would be sure to take into consideration the interests of Taiwanese at the grass-roots level, as well as the needs of Taiwan’s small and medium-sized enterprises. Tang, who is also director of the mainland’s Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, reiterated that Beijing authorities will see to it that “ECFA promotes cross-strait economic cooperation results in a win-win situation.” He urged the two sides to finalize the early-harvest list with modest and realistic expectations, and start with items that both sides can easily agree upon so the pact can be signed quickly. In response, Huang said it is reasonable to expect an ECFA signing in either May or June, as long as both sides can follow the principles mentioned by Tang. Huang noted that since the free trade agreement between the mainland and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has taken effect, Taiwan needs to sign ECFA as soon as possible, so as to minimize the impact that the ASEAN-mainland China FTA will have on Taiwan’s exporters. Though both sides wish to keep the early-harvest list short, Taiwan will not hesitate to seek inclusion on the early-harvest list of those items it feels must be included, Huang said. Tang urged realistic expectations of ECFA. “This agreement will have a positive impact on the lives of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Through it, we hope to establish a mechanism that will promote cross-strait economic cooperation in an institutionalized and more convenient manner. “But it is not a magic pill that will cure all problems. It is also not some torrential flood or a savage wild beast, as some have made it out to be. It deserves an objective review.” (HZW)