The government said yesterday it would seek to remove the tile industry from the first-round opening list in talks with China to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) to protect industries that may be vulnerable to “stiff competition.”
The Ministry of Economic Affairs made the remarks after the Taiwan Ceramic Industries Association (陶瓷公會) expressed deep concern about the threat from China, saying a drastic reduction in tariffs on tiles imported from China could lead to large-scale shutdowns in Taiwan.
“The government will strive to exclude those industries vulnerable to stiff competition, such as the ceramic sector, in the early-harvest list,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said it would try to keep these industries under categories scheduled for later opening.
Newly appointed Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥) said the ministry would continue to push for the signing of an ECFA with China, following the guidelines made by his predecessor, Yiin Chii-ming (尹啟銘).
However, Shih said it was unlikely that Taiwanese negotiators and their Chinese counterparts would commence official talks on signing an ECFA next month, dismissing a report on the timeline by the Chinese-language Economic Daily News yesterday.
“We are following the guidelines set previously ... There is a lot of private talk going on through think tanks on both sides. However, we have not discussed any timetable for official meetings with China yet,” Shih told a media briefing.
Shih said the ministry was planning to add the service and commodity sectors to the agenda, which is focused on the financial sector.
Shih also said the ministry was seeking a suitable candidate to fill in the vacancy left by outgoing Vice Minister of Economic Affairs John Deng (鄧振中) to lead the ECFA negotiating team.
“We need a top trade negotiator to take charge of upcoming trade talk, including the ECFA,” Shih said, implying that he could pick Deng’s successor from incumbent economics ministry officials.
Meanwhile, Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Deputy Chairman Kao Koong-lian (高孔廉) said that SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) might not discuss these issues with his Chinese counterpart, Taiwan Affairs Office Director Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), when they hold their fourth meeting at the year’s end.
Kao said the progress might be delayed because both sides still have a lot of issues and tasks to tackle in the second half of the year.
On Taiwan’s side, the government is busy carrying out its reconstruction plan in the south and completing a Cabinet reshuffle.
Meanwhile, Beijing is preparing for its 60th National Day on Oct. 1 and the annual plenary session of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee, which will take place from Oct. 15 to Oct. 18, he said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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