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Officials push for Taiwan joining CPTTPP
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is pressing the government's case for joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, saying it remains a key policy objective.
Speaking at an economic forum in Taipei, Lin said the government has over the past several years been ensuring that Taiwan completes all legal reforms to ensure its economic and trade system meets with the trade bloc's requirements and being allowed to join would expand the platform's economic and trade influences. Lin went on to describe the CPTPP as being the most representative economic agreement in the Indo-Pacific region.
The foreign minister's comments are being echoed by Minister without Portfolio and member of the Office of Trade Negotiations, Yang Jen-ni, who told delegates at the forum that Taiwan could lose out on an extra 1.6 percentage points of GDP growth if it is unable to accede to the partnership.
According to Yang, participation is essential for Taiwan, as exclusion would not only limit the island's ability to adapt and enhance its competitiveness, but also be a "missed opportunity" for other member states, who would lose out on "Taiwan's unique strengths."
