The Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday said formal talks on the proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China should begin after the fourth round of high-level cross-strait talks scheduled for the middle of next month in Taichung.
It seems there is no need for a fifth round of informal talks as both parties have recently completed the mutual research stage and exchanged information on the possible economic impact of an ECFA, Deputy Minister Liang Kuo-hsin (梁國新) told reporters.
Liang’s remark came after Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) said on Thursday that there was a “reasonable expectation” that Taipei and Beijing would sign the ECFA during the fifth round of cross-strait talks in the first half of next year.
Wu said during a visit to the Mainland Affairs Council that it was usual practice for negotiators from the Straits Exchange Foundation and its Chinese counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, to discuss topics for the following round of negotiations after the issues of the current meeting are dealt with.
Since both sides have agreed to “exchange opinions” on an ECFA during the upcoming meeting in December, Wu said if the two sides touch on the issue, it would become a focal point of the fifth round of meetings.
Liang yesterday reiterated that the content of an ECFA “early harvest list” could be adjusted at all times before both parties finally agree on them. Wu has said possible items for the list have been cut from 1,000 to 500.
“We will seek to consult government authorities and the private sector before finalizing the list,” Liang said.
He confirmed that the financial services industry would be included as a part of the list.
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