Wed, Jul 23, 2003 - Page 10 News List

EU trade official praises WTO progress

DIPLOMATIC TOUCH Pierre Defraigne, the European Commission's deputy director-general for trade visited Taiwan for the grand opening of the EU's Taipei trade office

By Bill Heaney  /  STAFF REPORTER

When Taiwan agreed to join the WTO, it also made a commitment to sign the GPA which allows companies from all member countries to bid for public projects in other member countries. Beijing is preventing Taiwan from signing due to a dispute over the name Taiwan plans to use.

Despite the deputy director general's diplomatic language, local business leaders welcomed his visit.

"We're delighted [Defraigne] made the visit," Vuylsteke said. "The greater number of different organizations giving input to the Taiwan government on trade issues -- and on the opportunities the Taiwanese can grasp -- the better."

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