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See also:
Trade Policy Review: Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu
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This second Trade Policy Review of Chinese Taipei
has enabled us to improve our understanding of recent developments in its
trade and related policies, and the challenges it now faces. Our discussion
has clearly benefited from the active participation of the Chinese Taipei
delegation, led by Mr. Sheng-Chung Lin, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs,
as well as from the contribution of our discussant, Mr. John Clarke, Chargé
d'Affaires of the EU, and the numerous interventions by Members. Chinese
Taipei's prompt response to the large number of questions was very much
appreciated.
Members congratulated Chinese Taipei on its
successful outward-oriented development strategy, which had brought about
economic growth and thus prosperity. They praised Chinese Taipei for
avoiding protectionist measures in response to the recent economic downturn
caused by the global financial crisis. Members commended Chinese Taipei for
responding appropriately by implementing fiscal and monetary stimulus. They
welcomed the economy's strong recovery already under way in 2010. Members
also acknowledged Chinese Taipei's generally open trade and investment
regime, and welcomed its pursuit of further trade liberalization during the
review period, particularly in the services sector, as well as its
achievements in the areas of regulatory reform and transparency.
Members noted that Chinese Taipei remains heavily
dependent on a few manufactured exports and that this left it vulnerable to
sharp contractions in global demand, such as had occurred in 2008-09. They
were interested in knowing how Chinese Taipei intends to diversify its
economy and promote the development of the services sector and high-tech
manufacturing as the new engines of economic growth. Members were also
interested to hear from Chinese Taipei of any plans it might have for
further structural reforms aimed, for example, at focussing more on domestic
demand, stepping up privatization, and improving the investment climate, so
as to ensure sustained growth.
Members commended Chinese Taipei for, and sought
more information on the recently concluded Economic Cooperation Framework
Agreement (ECFA) with China. They applauded Chinese Taipei's active
participation in WTO work and in furthering the ongoing multilateral trade
negotiations agenda in many areas. Members were also pleased with Chinese
Taipei's continuous efforts to align its trade policies to WTO commitments,
particularly its recent accession to the Government Procurement Agreement.
Members encouraged Chinese Taipei to make commitments commensurate with its
current level of development in line with its WTO accession undertakings.
Members expressed their appreciation of Chinese Taipei's work and support in
the areas of aid for trade, trade facilitation and trade-related technical
assistance.
While acknowledging Chinese Taipei's open trade
regime, Members noted the lack of tariff reductions during the review period
as well as the complex tariff structure and high rates on certain
agricultural products. They encouraged improvements in this area. Members
expressed concern over, inter alia, the low and falling share of domestic
standards aligned to international standards. Members raised questions on
Chinese Taipei's SPS regime. Members commended improved protection of
intellectual property rights; nevertheless, some urged Chinese Taipei to
step up its enforcement efforts in certain areas such as internet piracy,
illegal text copying, and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
Members noted that against the background of
continuing liberalization in other sectors, and despite its minor role in
Chinese Taipei's economy, agriculture continues to receive significant
protection in the form of high tariffs mostly non-ad valorem tariffs, which
tend to conceal relatively high rates of protection, tariff-rate quotas,
special safeguard measures, and several domestic support measures. In this
respect, Members urged Chinese Taipei to step up efforts to further
liberalize its agricultural sector by, inter alia, simplifying the tariff
and making it more transparent by using ad valorem rates, and reducing trade
distorting support measures. Members also encouraged Chinese Taipei to
introduce stronger disciplines in the area of fisheries subsidies, including
the elimination of those subsidies that contribute to over-fishing. As
regards the manufacturing sector, Members inquired about the specific nature
of the incentives provided under the recently enacted Statute for Industrial
Innovation.
Members acknowledged Chinese Taipei's continued
steps during the review period to liberalize trade in services and improve
the sector's regulatory framework. Nonetheless, they noted that several
informal barriers and investment restrictions were still in place in certain
subsectors, while in others government intervention remained substantial.
Hence, Members encouraged Chinese Taipei to undertake further liberalization
in areas such as financial services, telecommunications, and transport
services, and to incorporate unilateral liberalization measures already
undertaken into future offers in the services negotiations. Members also
inquired about Chinese Taipei's strategy to increase the competitiveness of
its services, and about concrete plans to develop healthcare as well as
cultural services. Members invited Chinese Taipei to review remaining
restrictions in areas such as qualification and licensing requirements.
This successfully concludes our second Review of
Chinese Taipei. The large number of advance questions and the many
interventions indicate the important role Chinese Taipei plays at the WTO. I
would once again like to thank the Chinese Taipei delegation for their
efforts, the discussant for his comments, and Members for contributing to
what has been a very enlightening two days of discussions.
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