Talks on Taiwan-China proposed economic cooperation framework agreement to commence in Taiwan

31-Mar-10

A second group of Chinese officials arrived in Taiwan for groundwork for the second round of cross-Taiwan Strait talks on a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA). They will join Tang Wei, head of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs under China's Ministry of Commerce and Wang Zheng, deputy chief of the Department of Economy under the Taiwan Affairs Office, in Taiwan since last week. The ECFA talks are scheduled to take place Wednesday and Thursday. Leading the Taiwan delegation will be led by Huang Chih-peng, director-general of the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. This will be the first time that government officials are heading cross-strait negotiations. The two sides will exchange views on the text of the agreement and discuss the "early harvest" programs for goods and services that will be the first to receive preferential treatment under the trade pact. Machinery, mid- and upper-stream textiles, petrochemicals, auto parts, and electronics are anticipated to be part of this list.