Senior ruling party lawmakers say the government is preparing changes in four areas of law to prepare for potential membership of the CPTPP. Lawmaker Cheng Yun-Peng of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) says the government is planning changes to the Patent Act, the Copyright Act and the Trademark Act.
Cheng says the government will also draft a Digital Communications Act.
The CPTPP is a free trade agreement joining a total of 11 countries, including Japan, Canada and Australia. Taiwan submitted a formal application to enter the free trade agreement in September, less than a week after China did the same.
Cheng says Taiwan’s recent decision to allow food imports from regions affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster did not mark the start of CPTPP preparations. He says the government has already made changes to nine laws and regulations in preparation to join the agreement. Those include changes to rules for fisheries, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, pesticides, and postal services.
DPP lawmaker Lin Ching-yi says she hopes Taiwan can join the CPTPP to boost its competitiveness in international markets and open up more opportunities for economic development.