FEPZ amendments proposed by Taiwan's DPP

2014-08-04

Amendments to the Free Economic Pilot Zones bill were proposed July 31 by the Democratic Progressive Party, a development that may bring an end to the deadlock over the matter between the opposition and ruling Kuomintang.

KMT Legislator Huang Chao-shun, chairwoman of the Legislative Economics Committee responsible for reviewing the bill, welcomed the DPP move. “At least this can bring both sides to the table,” she said.

According to Huang, she plans to call three joint-committee meetings next week so the bill can be fast-tracked for floor voting as soon as possible. The legislation has been under an article-by-article review by the economics, finance and internal administration committees since March this year.

Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng is also expected to arrange bipartisan negotiations on the matter and a cross-strait agreement supervisory bill.

According to the DPP, its version focuses on two major areas: strengthening complementary measures and eliminating inappropriate liberalization models.

These include action plans and impact assessment on affected industries from the government prior to promoting regional integration; measures to check real estate speculation and development plans that might endanger the environment and national land planning.

In addition, the DPP proposal bans the import of agricultural and industrial products under special permission for the FEPZ, and cuts tax incentives for investment and the retaining of foreign talent. It also eliminates education, international medical care and professional services, such as architects, lawyers and public certified accounts, from the list of sectors for strategic promotion.

The National Development Council, agency in charge of implementing the FEPZ project, said the DPP’s key amendments are already being discussed by the council and related parties, and it will respect all decisions reached on the issue by the Legislative Yuan.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=220222&ctNode=445)