Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥) said yesterday the government would step up efforts to ensure an economic pact with China is inked next month, despite the fact that less than 50 percent of the public support the proposed cross-strait trade deal.
Shih said the World Expo in Shanghai would not affect the timeframe for the signing of an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China.
He also confirmed that financial services would be on the agenda for the third round of ECFA talks, which are scheduled to be held in Beijing in the middle of this month.
The minister made the remarks during a question-and-answer session at the legislature.
He reiterated that the government would “continue its endeavor to convince the public that Taiwan should sign an ECFA with China,” amid growing concern that a majority of the public oppose signing the agreement.
Shih guaranteed that Taiwan would sign free-trade agreements (FTAs) with other countries “several years” after inking an ECFA with China, but refused to confirm that Singapore would be the first.
“It can be expected that Taiwan will sign FTAs with other countries following the signing of an ECFA with China, because detente across the Taiwan Strait will help the nation engage in FTA negotiations with other economies,” Shih said.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆), however, asked why it would take “several years” for Taiwan to sign FTAs with other countries, asking for a more concrete timeframe.
Shih said the government was seeking to engage in FTA talks with other countries, but that it also needed to communicate with the agricultural and industrial sectors about the impact of FTAs.
“I cannot tell you specifically when Taiwan will sign FTAs with other nations [following the signing of an ECFA] for the time being, but the government will try its best on this front and let the public know as soon as possible,” Shih said.
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