Minister of Economic Affairs Steve Chen (
Chen, accompanied by a group of trade officials, arrived in Hanoi yesterday to take part in the 2006 APEC forum.
He met Vietnamese trade minister Truong Dinh Tuyen in the afternoon and began the meeting by congratulating Vietnam for being admitted into the WTO.
Vietnam will never have to worry about unstable most favored nation treatment by the US anymore because it will be protected by WTO regulations, which is also good news to Taiwan, Chen said.
After Vietnam enters the WTO, foreign investment is expected to soar, which would benefit Taiwanese businesspeople as well, Chen said.
"For example, Taiwanese businessmen who invested in textile industries in Vietnam will be exempted from quota limitations and enjoy most preferential tariff tax since Vietnam has become a member of the WTO," Chen told a news briefing for the Taiwanese press contingent after his meeting with Truong.
Chen said he had also expressed concern on several issues, including the signing of the Temporary Admission Carnet, a reduction in tariff duties on textile goods and the demand for revision on oxygen standards.
He also said that Taiwan expected Vietnam to be more meticulous about issuing certificates of origin because China has been dumping many products through Vietnam, which has damaged Vietnamese trading interests.
"If Taiwan implements anti-dumping measures on Vietnamese products, the victim will be Vietnam rather than China," Chen said.
Chen said he had discussed visa issues with Mexico and the possibility of a taxation agreement to avoid double taxation in a meeting with Mexican delegates yesterday afternoon.
"More Taiwanese are investing in Mexico and we really hope the Mexican government would help us to improve the investment environment," Chen said.
Chen will hold talks with WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy today and have bilateral meetings with delegates from other APEC economies over the next few days.
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