Premier Jiang Yi-huah today chaired a joint meeting of the Executive Yuan's Committee on Global Economic and Trade Strategies and the Task Force on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to review the working plans of Taiwan's bids to join the two regional agreements.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Education, Environmental Protection Administration and National Communications Commission reported on their preparations and problems encountered, including areas requiring further liberalization, issues of concern to TPP and RCEP members, and Taiwan's response measures.
Taiwan needs the approval of all members of either trade block to gain entry, noted Premier Jiang. He instructed agencies to actively address the members' concerns and steadily develop bilateral economic and trade relations with them to create conditions favorable for Taiwan's participation in regional economic integration. The public should also be kept informed of the government's communication with industries in a timely fashion, he remarked.
The TPP is a regional economic integration agreement that is evolving over time, Jiang continued, hence any shifts in the economic environment may change the pact's negotiation contents or raise new issues outside the traditional free trade agreement scope. Although Taiwan has yet to obtain full details on the TPP and RCEP negotiations, and while it is still unclear how U.S. President Barack Obama's recent four-country Asia-Pacific trip will affect the TPP talks, the premier urged all government agencies to stay on top of all negotiation developments and be ready to respond to any non-traditional or cross-cutting trade issues. If necessary, such issues may be brought to the committee/task force for discussion.
In addition, Taiwan's efforts to participate in regional economic integration are being affected by growing public concerns about the services trade pact under the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement. Executive Yuan agencies will step up communication and publicity among citizens, domestic businesses, overseas Taiwanese communities, and students studying abroad to help them understand the importance of regional economic integration to Taiwan's economic future.