Thu, Jul 17, 2008 page3

• Ma suggests following WTO and APEC models in inking free-trade agreements

  • By Ko Shu-ling / STAFF REPORTER
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  President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday that the nation would face less obstruction in signing free-trade agreements (FTA) with ASEAN states if it were to adopt the names it uses for membership in the WTO and APEC.

  Taiwan uses the name “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu” for membership in the WTO and “Chinese Taipei” for APEC.

  Once the country signs FTAs with ASEAN countries, it would no longer be marginalized as more countries join the regional economic bloc, Ma said.

  He made the remark while meeting members of the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises at the Presidential Office yesterday afternoon.

  Ma said his administration pays great attention to the economic impact of the growth of the ASEAN countries, saying studies predict a 1 percentage point drop in Taiwan’s economic growth should one more country join the 10-member ASEAN.

  In addition to Chinese opposition, Ma blamed former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) for the country’s failure to secure an FTA with Singapore, saying Chen had insisted on signing the trade pact under the name “Taiwan.”

  Apart from signing FTAs with ASEAN countries, Ma proposed negotiating with Beijing on signing a “comprehensive economic cooperative agreement” to improve economic relations.

  Ma said the former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government could not accept using the model adopted by Hong Kong and Macau because it believed signing a similar “Closer Economic Partnership Agreement” would be a denigration of the country’s sovereignty.

  Beijing, on the other hand, opposes signing an FTA with Taiwan because it considers such an agreement to be an accord inked between two nations.

  Ma said that weekend charter flights, allowing more Chinese tourists into Taiwan and other relaxations of cross-strait regulations were just the first step toward the long-term goal.

  “Our goal is a thorough normalization of economic ties with the mainland,” he said.

  Ma said while it was something that should have been done by the former DPP regime, the public expected his administration to get it done in a short period of time.

  “I think my last name puts me in a very unfavorable position because they expect me to do things in no time at all,” he said.

  Ma means “horse” in Mandarin. His campaign slogans such as mashanghao or “get better immediately” attracted the support of voters who believed the political and economic situation would become better in no time if he was elected.
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