Panel and financial service industries will not be included in the second round of negotiations on a proposed economic pact with China, government officials said yesterday. Taipei and Beijing officials are meeting in Dasi (大溪), Taoyuan County today for the two-day round of formal negotiations on an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA).
“It isn’t as urgent for the panel industry to be included in the early harvest list as other industries. It won’t be included in this round of talks,” Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥) said in response to reporters’ questions yesterday.
Financial Supervisory Commission Vice Chairwoman Lee Jih-chu (李紀珠) yesterday said that her commission had been informed on Monday that cross-strait financial services would not be included in the negotiations either.
“We are aware that the negotiations on cross-strait market access for the financial sector will not be on the agenda of the ECFA talks,” Lee told a routine media briefing.
She said she could not offer an explanation, saying the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Mainland Affairs Council made the decision.
The two sides of the Taiwan Strait will discuss their early harvest lists, under which specific industries will be the first to enjoy lower or zero tariffs.
Machinery, textiles, petrochemicals, as well as automobiles and related components will be included on Taiwan’s list, Shih said.
“However, we still can’t confirm the list until both sides voice their respective requests and views in the second round of negotiations,” he said, expressing confidence that an ECFA would be signed by June before being sent to the legislature for approval.
He said there would be at least two more rounds of formal negotiations between the two sides before June.
The minister assured the public that the negotiations’ outcome would be transparent so people can better understand the issues.
Meanwhile, Shih said the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should cooperate to pass a proposed bill on promoting innovative industries (促進產業創新條例).
“The [base of the] Taiwanese economy is transforming from manufacturing to services. Innovation is critical to the transition and we call for harmonious negotiations to pass the bill as soon as possible,” he said, adding that the prospects for Taiwan’s economy, employment and company investments would be enhanced if the bill were implemented.
He rebutted DPP accusations that small and medium businesses are not favored in the proposed statute, saying that the bill in fact applies to “all companies in all sectors regardless of size.”
As long as these companies take initiatives to conduct research and development and personnel development, they are eligible to apply for tax cuts, he said.
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