Chinese Taipei’s 5th Anniversary of WTO Membership


DG contribution to Chinese Taipei WTO Center E-Paper Special Edition


I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Chinese Taipei on its 5th anniversary of WTO membership. The last five years have witnessed a steady growth in Chinese Taipei’s economy and today Chinese Taipei has become an important global trading power.


Since its accession, Chinese Taipei’s performance in the WTO has been good. It has seriously implemented its accession commitments and it has engaged in domestic reforms towards greater trade opening. A number of areas will continue to require attention in the next years, such as further reforms in agriculture to improve its competitiveness, improvement in cross-strait trade or IPR enforcement.


Chinese Taipei has a big stake in the WTO. The multilateral trading system provides a stable and predictable global trading environment for Chinese Taipei’s exports. It provides the best insurance policy for Chinese Taipei against trade protectionism. The Doha Round, if and when successfully concluded, would also provide better market access conditions in both developed and developing country markets.


Chinese Taipei has played an active role in the Doha Round since its accession. Its delegates and negotiators actively participate in the negotiations, particularly in the areas of industrial goods, rules and trade facilitation. Their contribution has been valuable and constructive.


I believe the multilateral trading system will continue to benefit the Chinese Taipei’s economy and its people. I also look forward to Chinese Taipei’s continuous support on the WTO and the Doha Round.


Happy anniversary!


Pascal Lamy
Director-General
World Trade Organisation

首先，很高興有這個機會恭賀中華台北加入WTO五週年。在過去的五年中，我們見證了中華台北經濟的穩定成長，今日已經成為一個在全球占有重要地位的貿易力量。


自從入會以來，中華台北在WTO皆有良好的表現。除了認真落實入會承諾外，更致力於促進貿易進一步自由化的國內改革。未來值得繼續努力的方向，諸如進行農業改革以提升競爭力、改善兩岸貿易關係，以及強化智慧財產權的保障等。


WTO對中華台北的經貿發展而言有很直接的利害關係。WTO的多邊貿易機制為其出口貿易提供一個穩定與可預測的環境。WTO亦對中華台北提供對抗貿易保護主義措施最佳的保障。若未來杜哈回合談判能夠成功達成協議，亦將使得中華台北更容易進入開發中和已開發國家的市場。


自從入會後，中華台北在杜哈回合談判中向來扮演著積極參與的角色。相關談判代表與成員積極參與各項議題談判，尤其是工業產品、貿易規則與貿易便捷化等，並非常具有價值和建設性的貢獻。


我相信多邊貿易機制將會持續使中華台北的經濟和人民受益，我也期盼中華台北能夠繼續支持WTO和杜哈回合談判。


謹祝入會五週年快樂！


世界貿易組織
秘書長
拉米(Pascal Lamy)