TRADE IN GOODS:Consensuses have been reached with China on special rules of origin and on technical barriers of trade, but several major issues were unresolved

Taipei Times
Date:  Nov 25, 2015
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Delegates in the 12th round of negotiations over a cross-strait trade in goods agreement on Monday failed to narrow their differences over several major issues, but Taiwan’s team still hopes to “make major progress” by the end of this year.

“Both negotiating teams have demonstrated their determination and sincerity,” reaching a number of consensuses, but differences remain over some issues and the two sides have decided to hold another round of talks next month in Taipei, head of the Taiwanese negotiating team Board of Foreign Trade Director-General Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮) said.

The agreement, if reached, would reduce or eliminate tariffs on many goods traded between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, including automobile parts, machinery products, petrochemical products and display panels.

Following three days of talks, one main consensus reached was the clearance of goods within 48 hours of their declaration at customs, Yang said.     [FULL  STORY]