To accelerate preparations for Taiwan's accession into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Premier Jiang Yi-huah hosted a meeting of the Executive Yuan's international trade strategies task force today to review agencies' plans on negotiating economic cooperation agreements and promoting trade liberalization.
The focus of the task force is not limited to TPP and RCEP, but also includes negotiation strategies for other countries, regions and international organizations, Jiang said. The Ministry of Economic Affairs will establish a working team in 2014 to ensure that all basic preparations for joining the TPP are completed before July. Since the TPP will be the main focus of the task force in the coming year, Jiang requested ministries to speed up implementation of their plans.
Premier Jiang also instructed the ministries to list the possible problems and challenges in negotiating Taiwan's integration into the global economy, and to propose fast, concrete and precise solutions for previously unresolved issues whether by amending current regulations or adjusting administrative ordinances. All working plans and presentation materials should be updated at all times so that the TPP preparations can be completed next year.
"If people only focus on the negative impacts of economic integration, they will overlook the business opportunities to be created," noted Premier Jiang. "As the competent authority over industries, the government should be helping businesses turn market opening into opportunity instead of just providing them with relief and compensation. Take the agricultural industry for instance—when this market becomes open, the Council of Agriculture will be able to help negotiate tariff reductions for domestic products entering foreign markets."
The premier further emphasized that all ministries can be opportunity creators and that they should proactively help businesses overcome new challenges. He also hopes to hear about more public-private cooperation at future meetings.
According to the Executive Yuan, Premier Jiang had given instructions in July 2013 that preparatory work for economic and trade liberalization should be accomplished through two phases. After assessing hurdles to market opening, the ministries and commissions identified 11 key issues. Those relating to the regulatory environment include: financial data processing of cross-border purchases; scope of the postal monopoly; technical regulations, standards and conformity assessments; protection of intellectual property rights; cross-border flow of talent; and rules for food safety inspections as well as animal/plant inspection and quarantine. Issues relating to market opening include: agriculture; industry; land transportation; telecommunications; and legal, accounting and architectural services.