Market expansion backed
Taiwan's permanent representative to the WTO on Tuesday reaffirmed the nation's position of supporting the expansion of markets for non-agricultural products but called for a grace period to new WTO members in lowering their tariffs.
Yen Ching-chang (顏慶章) made the remarks at a meeting for WTO delegation chiefs.
WTO members are deliberating on a proposal submitted by the US, the EU and Canada for big reductions in tariffs in the highest tariffs ranges as part of the current round of trade liberalization negotiations.
Although supporting the expansion of markets for non-agricultural products in global trade, Yen stressed that any proposal should consider the special needs of new members; therefore, Taiwan maintains the position that new members should be given a longer grace period to implement the results of the new round of trade talks.
Infineon in new chip venture
Infineon Technologies AG, the second-largest semiconductor maker in Europe, said it's forming a joint venture with Taiwan's United Expitaxy Co to jointly develop chips based on fiber-optics technology.
Infineon will hold 56 percent in the Hsinchu-based company and United Expitaxy the rest, Infineon said in a faxed release.
The two partners will invest US$12 million in the company, which will employ 120 people when working at full capacity.
Mass production of the so-called optochips is planned for the fourth quarter next year.
Gateway to boost purchases
San Diego-based Gateway Inc, a direct retailer selling its own brand consumer electronics, is planning to boost its purchases from Taiwan to US$1 billion this year, president Ted Waitt said.
The company is also planning to set up a product development center in Taiwan, he said.
Waitt made the remarks when he met Minister of Economics Lin Yi-fu (林義夫) and his entourage, who visited Gateway's headquarters on Tuesday.
Lin also visited Simax Technologies Inc, a manufacturer of high accuracy electro-optics alignment components, in Irvine, California. At Simax, Lin was told by a company executive that the company is studying the feasibility of moving its production lines to Taiwan.
Lin is on a week-long visit to the US to attract investment to Taiwan. He was in Chicago yesterday and today he will meet manufacturers in Delaware and New Jersey, while his schedule for Friday includes a visit to CorningWare Co in upstate New York.
Lin is due to return home on Saturday.
Missing Intel parts discovered
Prosecutors found NT$600 million (US$17.44 million) worth of computer parts reported missing by US chipmaker Intel Corp in offices in Taipei, cable news channel SETN reported yesterday.
SETN showed footage of pro-secutors carrying computer parts and boxes out of the offices of CNS Micro Technology.
The computer parts formed part of a consignment from Intel that had gone missing from London's Heathrow Airport, the report said.
It did not mention when and how the parts disappeared.
US authorities found some of the parts for sale on the Internet and discovered the seller was based in Taiwan, SETN reported.
Prosecutors and police sources were unwilling to comment on the SETN report.
NT dollar weakens
The New Taiwan dollar yesterday turned weak against its US counterpart, declining NT$0.003 to close at NT$34.385 on the Taipei foreign exchange market. Turnover was US$453 million.
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