The legislature yesterday passed several draft changes to the Motion Picture Law that will further liberalize Taiwan's movie industry in preparation for WTO entry.
One provision does away with a requirement that a minimum number of domestically produced films be shown at local theaters. Another proposed change scraps a special tax on imported films.
The provisions were approved by the legislature's Educational and Cultural Committee.
The move is expected to further open the market to Hollywood and other foreign films after Taiwan joins the WTO.
"The deletion of these provisions is necessitated by Taiwan's WTO entry," said Su Tzen-ping (蘇正平), director-general of the Government Information Office.
Though lawmakers cut the protective measures, they included language in the draft changes that says the government must take "measures to ensure the industry's continued existence and development" should local producers be "seriously threatened."
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