Taiwan's trade measures negative influence to mainland industries

The Ministry of Commerce, after an eight-month probe, determined that Taiwan's trade-restrictive measures against the mainland constitute trade barriers pursuant to relevant regulations, posting negative influence to the mainland's relevant industries and enterprises.

The investigation indicates that Taiwan has long imposed trade restrictions on relevant products originating from the mainland, and the scope of mainland products that Taiwan forbids imports of has been expanding in recent years, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

As of November, Taiwan has banned the import of 2,509 mainland products, the ministry said, stressing that Taiwan, according to the rules of the World Trade Organization, is obligated to provide export treatment and competitive opportunities to the mainland and other WTO members on an equal footing.

Meanwhile, the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement - a comprehensive cross-Strait economic pact – also specified that the mainland and Taiwan should gradually reduce or eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers on the majority of goods traded between them, the ministry noted.

The ministry launched the trade barrier investigation into Taiwan's trade-restrictive measures against the mainland on April 12 this year.

wangkeju@chinadaily.com.cn