Joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are major policy objectives, and thus various ministries must scrupulously carry out the harmonizing of laws and regulations with international standards, demonstrating the ROC's determination to join these regional economic bodies, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said today.
These efforts will bring Taiwan's economic and trade environment into accord with the global community and are in the interest of the nation and its people, he added.
The premier made these remarks after hearing a report by the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) on sound regulatory practices with respect to the TPP and RCEP at an Executive Yuan administrative affairs meeting.
Jiang directed the Ministry of Economic Affairs to assist other ministries in assessing the gaps between domestic and foreign laws and regulations with respect to liberalization. He also enjoined the CEPD to coordinate ministries' efforts on deregulation issues, augment inspection, oversight and coordination of various ministries on legal and regulatory harmonization based on suggestions provided by domestic industrial and commercial associations and foreign chambers of commerce, and publicize progress on these matters in a timely fashion.
The premier tasked Vice Premier Mao Chi-kuo with overseeing the project and expects domestic laws and regulations to be expediently harmonized with international standards so that the nation will be prepared to join the TPP and RCEP.
In order to implement deregulation and ensure the nation has a sound regulatory environment, the CEPD has proposed concrete actions such as Good Regulatory Practices (GRP), regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) and public consultations.
Strengthening Implementation of GRP was a part of the Leaders' Declaration at the 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting, the CEPD noted. Additionally, ministries should harmonize regulations so that they do not conflict with each other, strengthen RIAs, scrutinize the impact of regulations on society and the economy, and hold public consultations when developing policies to enhance communication about relevant issues, the agency stated.
The CEPD will cooperate with the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration to sharpen the abilities of civil servants through training. Furthermore, cross-ministerial coordination on deregulation proposals presented by foreign chambers of commerce will be held at the end of April, part of a drive to convince the business world of the government's determination to participate in regional economic integration.