After completing rounds of discussions on key points raised in its position papers with the government, the European Chamber of Commerce Taipei (ECCT) said yesterday that despite resolution of some industry-related matters, no or little progress had been made on crucial issues.
The ECCT released its annual ECCT Position Paper in October under the theme "Face Reality: Normalize Cross-Strait Economic Relations to Secure Taiwan's Prosperity."
Of the approximately 150 business-related issues raised in the ECCT's position paper, up to a dozen had been conclusively resolved.
More than 40, meanwhile, were either close to being resolved or substantial progress had been made toward resolving them, ECCT chairman Ralf Scheller said in a press release yesterday.
Issues resolved since the publication of the position paper included easing restrictions on the issuance of new bank branch licenses, and amending laws to allow individuals in Taiwan to own and operate their own aircraft and to invest in airline or airport services, the ECCT said.
In the retail industry, retailers in buildings with fewer than five storys will no longer need a basement to serve as a bomb shelter, a move which is expected to save NT$100 million (US$3 million) to NT$200 million in construction costs for each new outlet, it said.
ECCT chief executive officer Guy Wittich said the Council for Economic Planning and Development was instrumental in urging various ministries and departments to work harder toward solutions to improve the business environment.
He said that assistance had been particularly effective on issues that for several years were discussed in the ECCT reports.
"This is an encouraging sign," Wittich said.
But the call to normalize cross-strait business relations went unheeded. The government lifted bans on 27 items to be imported from China last year while in the first quarter of this year, nine other products were cleared, the ECCT said.
Approximately 2,300 Chinese products remained on the imports banned list, it said.
The absence of direct communication and transportations across the Taiwan Strait and an investment cap continued to restrain Taiwan's integration into the regional economy, the report said.
Overregulation in the service industry; a proposed new bankruptcy law that would pose a serious threat to the financial industry; and the use of compulsory licensing in violation of Taiwan's commitment to protect intellectual property rights were among issues of concern for the chamber on which little progress had been made.
"Despite the government's willingness to engage with the European business community on specific industry issues, the ECCT has not witnessed a determined effort to simplify and reduce overregulation," the position paper said.
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