President Ma Ying-jeou said in Hualien on May 8 that he wanted to lead Taiwan to embrace the world after the country had been regrettably marginalized for eight years due to the former administration’s isolation economic and trade policy. The president, accompanied by ministers of the Council of Agriculture (COA), the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Council of Mainland Affairs and the Council of Labor, made the statement when talking with Hualien representatives about the proposed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA).

COA Minister Chen Wu-hsiung explained that the planned ECFA would not adversely affect Taiwan ’s agriculture because it does not cover agricultural issues in the first phase. Even after signing the agreement, he stressed, the government will continue its control over 830 items of mainland Chinese agricultural products to be imported, and tariff duties on 1,415 farm products permitted to be imported from mainland currently will not be lowered. With regard to farmers’ worries about losing Taiwan ’s agricultural advantage after signing ECFA, Chen said the government will strengthen the protection of key agricultural technologies and trademark rights, in addition to safeguarding Taiwan's advantage through intellectual property right negotiations.

As to ECFA opponents’ claim that after signing the agreement Taiwan will be forced to open its market to more than 600 items of mainland farm produce in 10 years, the minister pointed out that the claim is not correct because in fact it took many countries more than 10 years to lower their import tariff duties after signing free trade agreements (FTA). President Ma also noted that it took more than 10 years for 23 countries to adjust their tariff duties and for some countries it was 15 years after signing FTAs. As long as the two signatories have reached a consensus, it is not in violation of World Trade Organization regulations, added the president.

Both Wei Ching-ho, director general of the Rueisuei Township Farmers Association, and Huang Sheng-fu, president of the Ji-An Township Farmers Association, expressed their welcome to and expectation of ECFA. And Wei said he looked forward to bringing to the mainland market such quality Hualien agricultural products as pomelos and there is a great fortune to be hand if every mainland Chinese buys one pomelo.

Industrial representatives on hand expressed the hope that the government could adjust the ratio of foreign laborers to local ones in accordance with industrial development requirements. They also asked the government to protect Hualien’s

stone industry. Both Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang and Deputy Minister of the Council of Labor Pan Shih-wei promised on the spot to take concrete measures to assist stone and other traditional industries and not to open the Taiwan labor market to mainland laborers. Their statements received loud applause from industrial representatives at present at the talks.

President Ma noted that under the trend of regional integration the government has to take some actions and can no longer watch with folded arms the crisis of marginalization, adding that Taiwan will benefit us the most by signing the economic agreement with its biggest trade partner. Since Taiwanis located in an extremely advantageous economic and geographic key position, he said it makes no sense to continue to close the country to the international community considering Taiwan ’s shipping, talents, technological development, law and order and the enthusiastic and friendly nature of the Taiwanese people.

The president quoted Chung Hua Institution for Economic Research data as saying that signing ECFA is expected to create 260,000 job opportunities, and that close to 30% of foreign businessmen are willing to increase their investments and 23% will establish manufacturing factories in Taiwan if the latter signs ECFA. In addition the faxt that  more Taiwanese businessmen in mainland Chinaare willing to return home demonstrated that ECFA will definitely bring Taiwan positive development prospects, he added.

President Ma emphasized that to create a better environment for the people is the government’s duty and he is confident that by helping the Taiwanese people keep their roots at home and make Taiwanstronger, ECFA will enable Taiwan to connect with the Asian and Pacific region and deploy throughout the world. He also appealed to all Taiwanese people to refrain  from closing the country and strive instread towards openness.

“The President Reports to Countrymen – Seminar on ECFA” was held at the Ji-An Township Farmers Association with some 400 agricultural, industrial and labor representatives attending. Hualien County Magistrate Fu Kun-chi, Legislators Yang Jen-fu and Wang Ting-sheng and many local opinion leaders were also present.