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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ TRADE

WTO picks Taiwanese chair

The WTO earlier this month selected a Taiwanese to chair one of its committees for the first time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday at its weekly briefing. Henry Liu (劉志宏) was elected chairperson for the Committee of Trade-Related Investment Measures under the body’s Council for Trade in Goods on April 8. Liu is the first Taiwanese national to hold a leadership position in the WTO since Taiwan’s admittance to the body six years ago. The official name that Taiwan uses in the WTO is “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.”



■ TRANSPORTATION

Hsuehshan tunnel faster

Starting next month, the minimum driving speed inside the Hsuehshan Tunnel will be raised from 50kph to 60kph, the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau said yesterday. The bureau said in a statement that it initially set the speed limit at 70kph and the minimum driving speed at 50kph between Taipei’s Nangang (南港) and Toucheng (頭城), Ilan County, on the Chiang Wei-shui Freeway (Freeway No.5), as motorists lacked experience driving in long tunnels. It has gradually raised the limit since then. Last October, the speed limit for the Nangang-Toucheng section was increased from 70kph to 80kph, except for the Hsuehshan Tunnel. Last month the bureau raised the speed limit inside the Hsuehshan Tunnel from 70kph to 80kph. The minimum driving speed is set to facilitate traffic flow inside the tunnel, the statement said. “Motorists are banned from switching lanes inside the tunnel. Traffic will be slowed if motorists drive too slow or drive too far behind other vehicles,” it said.



■ COMMODITIES

Tax on cooking wine cut

The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed an amendment to the Tobacco and Wine Law to lower the tax on rice wine for cooking. Under the amendment, the tax on rice wine for cooking will be reduced from NT$22 (US$0.72) per liter to NT$9 per liter. Cooking wine is considered to be an essential ingredient in Chinese cuisine. The legislature also passed a complementary resolution requiring the Ministry of Finance and the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp to ensure that the final price of the wine reflects the tax reduction. Martin Tsai (蔡木霖), chairman of the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp, said recently that if the amendment were passed, the retail price of the company’s rice cooking wine would drop. If the company adheres to its promise following the amendment’s passage, the price of 40-proof rice cooking wine will drop from NT$48 per bottle to NT$40 per bottle, while that of an 80-proof bottle of rice cooking wine would decrease from NT$64 to NT$56, and that of a 160-proof bottle from NT$90 to NT$82.



■ EDUCATION

NCU celebrates Book Day

National Central University (NCU) began a series of activities yesterday to mark World Book and Copyright Day, launched by UNESCO to encourage reading and held every April 23. The NCU opened an eight-day book exhibition in the lobby of its library yesterday to mark the day, with more than 100 books on display that focused on the concept of life education. The university is encouraging people to donate books for children living in remote and poor areas. The school will also hold a movie festival on its campus with a life education theme and will screen award-winning and popular movies such as Children of Heaven, Marvin’s Room and Good Will Hunting.
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