Sapporo: Taiwan's minister for economics says Taiwan has the right to seek free trade deals with governments besides China, because it's a member of the World Trade Organisation - a move China opposes as the two countries work on a trade pact.
Economics Minister Shih Yen-shiang was speaking at the trade ministers meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in northern Japan.
The spat between Beijing and Taipei over whether Taiwan can pursue free trade agreements with other governments poses a risk to a trade pact between the two sides under negotiations that could mark a massive shift in ties.
"Pursuing EPAs and FTAs is a part of [the] rights as a WTO member. Taiwan, of course, is a member and has these rights," said the Minister referring to the Economic Partnership Agreements and the Free Trade Agreement.
"We would like to do our best and continue EPA and FTA negotiations with our main trading partners," he said.
Some $109 billion (Dh400 billion) worth of products a year flow across the Taiwan Strait, and while the pact will slash tariffs on hundreds of these goods, it has split Taiwan between those who see its $390-billion economy benefiting from more access to China's markets and those who fear its reliance on its political rival.
While many expect the pact, called ‘Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement' (ECFA), to be signed in June, Shih has declined to say if that will be the case. "Of course, both sides have expected to see difficulties and obstacles in ECFA," he said. "We are trying to sign this as soon as possible."
Taiwan officials have said they expect the ECFA to open doors to FTAs with Japan, the United States and Southeast Asian nations.
