ECCT calls for measures to facilitate cross-strait trade

Taipei, Nov. 3, 2003 (CENS)--The European Council of Commerce and Trade (ECCT) will convene a meeting and issue an annual white paper today to suggest the Taiwan government introduce measures to facilitate trade across the Taiwan Strait.

At the meeting, ECCT will also call for the Taiwan government to take actions to protect the intellectual property rights (IPRs) and implement the government procurement agreement (GPA).

ECCT chairman Dirk Sanger will invite Hu Sheng-cheng, minister without portfolio of the Executive Yuan, to attend the meeting and answer questions raised by the European enterprises operating in Taiwan.

ECCT said mainland China has become a world production center with constant increase in air and marine transportation. Taiwan's restrictions on the transportation links with the mainland will undermine the island's future development. If Taiwan doesn't scrap the restrictions, it will face a reduction in port transportation amount and lose its international competitiveness.

In order to develop itself into a global logistics hub, Taiwan has to launch direct air and marine transportation links with the mainland so as to attract foreign firms to operate in Taiwan, said ECCT.

As Taiwan still rules out the participation of foreign firms in domestic public construction projects, ECCT is also worried that the looming trade protectionism in Taiwan will scare away foreign investments in Taiwan.

ECCT complained that the unique bidding system and terms implemented in Taiwan won't attract foreign firms to supply high-quality products at reasonable prices.

Seeing the prevailing counterfeited European brands in Taiwan, ECCT is questioning Taiwan government's determination to protect the IPRs. The council said it will list IPR as an important issue in the prospective business and trade talks between Taiwan and the European Union.