Lawmakers yesterday rushed to wrap up WTO-related legislation on the last day of the legislative session before they leave to campaign full-time to keep their seats.
Passed at yesterday's late night session were the Electronic Signature Law (電子簽章法) and an amendment to the Architectural Law (建築法). The Legislature Yuan will suspend the current session from today and will not resume until after the legislative elections are held on Dec. 1.
However, a temporary session is planned for Nov. 16 to pass remaining WTO-related laws, said DPP legislative caucus leader Tsai Huang-liang (
PHOTO: AP
The electronic signature law passed its third reading yesterday and could greatly assist future electronic commerce, according to officials at the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The main purpose for the new law is to legalize the use of electronic signatures over the Internet in Taiwan, leading to a more paperless society.
The amendment to the architectural law also passed its third reading yesterday, allowing foreign construction companies to establish operations in Taiwan.
The amendment is in line with WTO regulations regarding government procurement agreements and the nation's commitment to deregulating the service market to foreign firms. Overseas construction companies will be required to abide by recent amendments to the Company Law (
There are at least a dozen laws and amendments related to the WTO that need to be passed by the Legislative Yuan before Taiwan can finalize its WTO entry. Refusal by the New Party yesterday to support amendments to the Civil Aviation Law (民航法) and the Attorney Law (律師法) bogged down the process.
A handful of WTO related laws and regulations that were recently passed by the Legislature include the Optical Media Law (光碟管理條例), the Motion Picture Law (電影法), the Accountant Law (會計師法), the Patent Law (專利法), the Grain Control Law (糧食管理法), the Copyright Law (著作權法), the Veterinarian Law (獸醫法) and the Commercial Port Law (商港法). An amendment to the Securities Exchange Law (證券交易法) was also passed yesterday.
In related news, the legislative caucuses of the opposition KMT and the New Party yesterday warned that if the Executive Yuan fails to revise the budget proposal for the next fiscal year, they will boycott budget deliberations.
The legislature had resolved a day earlier that the Cabinet must revise the budget proposal by the end of November.
Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics chief Lin Chuan (
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