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Updated Wednesday, December 9, 2009 9:36 am TWN, The China Post news staff and CNA

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ECFA discussions to begin early next year

Citing statistics, the premier pointed out that the past KMT administrations opened imports of just 479 Chinese farm products during the 50-year period from 1950 to 2000. But the administration of the opposition pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) opened doors to 936 Chinese agricultural products in a short period of eight years, he said.

Wu said that the ECFA is not a cure-all for all the economic difficulties faced by Taiwan. But the government will strive to maximize the benefits for enterprises while reducing the possible adverse impact on Taiwan to the minimum.

Theodore Huang, chairman of the Taipei-based Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce, said he and his colleagues now have a further understanding about the government policy.

Huang Chih-peng, director general of the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), challenged critics of the proposed trade pact with China to debate the issue in a public forum.

“I am willing to face anyone who is interested in or skeptical about the planned Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement in a public debate.”

In an interview with the Central News Agency yesterday, the leading trade negotiator with China said Taiwan is suffering a “rain of fists” in the international arena, which gives it no option but to seek such an agreement with China.

“I am worried sick about Taiwan's future,” said Huang, who insists Taiwan will be hurt economically when the free trade zone to be formed by ASEAN countries and China takes effect next year. Taiwan's situation will further deteriorate when Japan and South Korea are incorporated into the bloc sometime before 2018, he said.

The trade official acknowledged that while the agreement will benefit the country in general, the government is concerned about the potential negative impact the deal could have on some sectors of the economy.

Huang said those consequences and government measures to deal with the impact should be clearly explained publicly.

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