Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Andrew Hsia (夏立言) yesterday dismissed speculation that January’s presidential and legislative elections would be a factor in hopes for a breakthrough in negotiations over the cross-strait trade in goods agreement.
Hsia made the remarks on the sidelines of a meeting of the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee in Taipei, at which he delivered a report on the latest developments in Taipei-Beijing talks over the agreement.
“Both sides were able to reach a consensus on most parts of the pending accord during the 12th round of negotiation in Taipei from Saturday last week to Monday,” Hsia said.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
However, Hsia said Taiwan and China are still negotiating on issues such as tax reduction and the normalization of cross-strait trade in agricultural products.
“We all hope to make a breakthrough by the end of this year,” he said.
Asked if Beijing is discontent with Taipei’s insistence on not opening its door to 615 agricultural products — which was reportedly the major issue of contention — Hsia said the government would maintain restraint over issues that concern food safety and the livelihood of Taiwanese farmers.
Hsia shrugged off speculation that the government’s plan for a breakthrough by the end of this year was politically motivated, given the elections are scheduled for Jan. 16.
“Many China-based Taiwanese businesspeople fret over the absence of a cross-strait trade in goods pact, saying it could cause their competitiveness in China to dwindle,” he said.
“That is why they have urged us to expedite the negotiations,” he said.
“We are merely responding to their requests,” he added.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) asked Hsia not to ink an agreement before a proposed cross-strait agreement oversight bill passed the legislative floor.
“The current legislative session is to end on Dec. 15 and our next round of negotiations will also be held in the middle of December. It will not come to fruition too quickly,” Hsia said.
“We simply want to make a major breakthrough in our bilateral talks,” he said.
The agreement would reduce or eliminate tariffs on many goods traded between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, including automobile parts, machinery products, petrochemical products and display panels.
Both sides reached a consensus during their last round of negotiations on a proposal to clear goods within 48 hours of their declaration at customs.
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