NDC responds to AmCham mid-cycle review

2015/12/17

The ROC government is committed to bringing Taiwan’s regulatory environment in line with international standards so as to fast-track integration of the local economy with the rest of the world, according to the National Development Council Dec. 15.

“As the primary communication channel between the government and foreign firms operating in Taiwan, the council will continue overseeing interministerial coordination to address regulatory discrepancies and issues of concern to businesses,” an NDC official said.

“Such efforts are key to ensuring the nation’s global competitiveness and clearing the path for Taiwan’s participation in world trade pacts such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.”

The NDC statement came in response to a mid-cycle review of the recommendations proposed in the annual White Paper released in June by American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei.

According to the council, following meetings between Taiwan authorities and AmCham committees over the past six months, significant progress has been made in areas like agriculture, asset management, banking, human resources and medical devices.

In particular, the government came in for praise from AmCham for addressing a longstanding pharmaceuticals issue by agreeing to implement Patent Linkage and set up an implementation system. Completion of the process will eliminate a sticking point on the annual agenda of the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement talks.

AmCham President Andrea Wu said she is “extremely gratified that the White Paper process once again is bringing some favorable results.

“The Chamber office and our committee are continuing to communicate with the relevant government officials. We look forward to further substantive progress in the months to come.”

AmCham also welcomed NDC efforts seeking to devise a set of guidelines for instituting a more effective rule-making process throughout the executive branch of government.

The guidelines are expected by AmCham to assist in identifying potential problems at an early stage when they can still be easily remedied for a win-win outcome.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=240225&ctNode=2194&mp=9)