ECFA negotiations may begin in October: Yiin

Yiin made the remark after Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers expressed concerns an ECFA may be signed next year.

Sunday, President Ma Ying-jeou said an ECFA may be signed between Taiwan and China no later than 2010.

The ECFA is an open-ended arrangement. Agreement has to be reached on Taiwan's petrochemical, automobile, textile and machinery exports quickly to avoid being heavily taxed in China.

Taxation on Taiwan exports will start on Jan. 1 next year when a new Asian free trade zone will be formed by the Association of South East Asian Nations and the People's Republic, known as ASEAN Plus One.

Yesterday at the Legislative Yuan's Economics Committee, Yiin said signing the ECFA was indeed urgent. “But negotiations will take place in a step-by-step fashion,” he said.

He said Taiwan will complete an ECFA study by June and conclude research with the PRC by September. If all goes well, negotiations will begin in October, Yiin said.

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