Lawmakers stall on bills as WTO deadline approaches

Taiwanese lawmakers must hurry and pass more than 10 bills in two weeks so the nation's 11-year campaign to join the WTO is not jeopardized, lawmakers said yesterday.

The lack of time is making some foreign businesses nervous.

"Taiwan has got to wake up to the real world out there," said Richard Vuylsteke, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei.

"They've got to get their act together quickly or they're not going to be safe," Vuylsteke said.

The legislation that require passage involve import tariffs, accounting regulations and a measure that would open the legal profession to foreign lawyers. Lawmakers must also approve a bill that allows foreign construction firms to open offices in Taiwan.

Taiwan and rival China are expected to be formally approved for WTO membership at a Nov. 9 through Nov. 13 meeting next month in Doha, Qatar.

Joining the WTO, which regulates global trade, will be a tremendous victory for Taiwan, which is shut out of most international organizations.

China insists Taiwan is part of its territory, and Beijing blocks the island from joining major global bodies, such as the UN.

Despite the importance of passing legislation required for WTO membership, Taiwanese lawmakers have been distracted by campaigning for Dec. 1 legislative elections. The current legislative session ends on Nov. 1.

One legislative leader, Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆), was not worried about missing the deadline.

"The legislature will not do anything to keep the bills from passing," said Lai of the opposition New Party.

Another legislator said that if there is a need to push the bills through, lawmakers will find a way to do it.

"We can extend the session for several days and do whatever needs to be done in the last minute," said Hsu Tien-tsai (許添財), of the ruling DPP.

Vuylsteke said if the bills are not passed, Taiwan could end up in WTO limbo, barred from becoming a full-fledged member and one step closer to accession.

There is also a danger that if Taiwan's WTO admission is delayed, China might have extra time to find a way to thwart Taiwan's entry.

Last week, China blocked Taiwan from sending an envoy to the APEC forum in Shanghai.