ISDS Case Map
China
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou is facing domestic and Chinese hurdles in his pursuit of a key China trade pact that could bring about the closest relations between the longtime rivals since their split amid civil war in 1949.
Taiwan's Referendum Review Committee yesterday rejected a proposal to hold a national referendum on an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) that has yet to be signed between Taipei and Beijing.
Mainland China may make a major concession in the talks for cross-Taiwan Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) by expanding the early-harvest list, or priority items for tariff cut or market opening, to 500 items rather than the expected 300.
Taiwan's President Ma is in trouble after a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman says that Beijing would not allow Taiwan to sign trade deals with other countries, even after an ECFA is signed.
Taiwan protested on Wednesday after China said it will object to foreign countries signing free trade agreements with the island, a blow to what Taipei officials see as a key driver to its US$390 billion economy.
China has made securing a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the GCC a high priority as demand for energy and industrial imports in the fast-emerging global superpower rises.
Taiwan authorities will decide Thursday on whether the ECFA referendum proposal is valid.
South Korea, Japan and China agreed Sunday to speed up an investment accord and research on a trilateral free trade pact.
Australia Tuesday denied that its planned 40 percent mining tax would hurt attempts to strike a free-trade agreement with China, a key market for the country's resources.
The second round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue is being held in Beijing on May 24-25.
