The head of the Bureau of Foreign Trade Yang Jen-ni says that Taiwan and China have a long way to go before they can initial a proposed cross-strait trade in goods agreement.
Yang was speaking Thursday as the tenth round of negotiations on the agreement closed in Beijing. Observers are concerned about whether Taiwan will be able to reach a deal comparable to the free trade agreement between China and Taiwan’s economic rival South Korea.
Yang said that Taiwan and China are still discussing a number of areas, including technical barriers to trade, the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, customs clearance, rules of origin, and trade remedies.
She also said that the two sides have arrived at a consensus in certain areas, but continue to disagree on issues such as market liberalization.
Meanwhile, officials with Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council say that once talks on the existing provisions are completed, high-level representatives from the two sides will sign the agreement. The agreement will then be sent to the legislature for review.