Minister without Portfolio John C. C. Deng leads Taiwan’s delegation to the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference taking place Feb. 26-29 in Abu Dhabi. (MOFA)
 

Taiwan is taking part in the World Trade Organization’s 13th Ministerial Conference Feb. 26-29 in Abu Dhabi to exchange views with other member economies on issues of common interest, the Executive Yuan Office of Trade Negotiations said Feb. 24.

Led by Minister without Portfolio John C. C. Deng, the group comprises Taiwan’s permanent representative to the WTO, Lo Chang-fa, and officials from the OTN and the Ministries of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs.

According to the OTN, the biennial MC is the WTO’s top decision-making body and provides guidelines on multi-lateral trade issues. This year’s event will focus on e-commerce, environmental sustainability through trade facilitation, restoration of dispute settlement mechanisms and other global trade challenges.

During the event’s four days, Taiwan’s delegation will outline the country’s achievements in global trade cooperation, including the Taiwan-U.S. Initiative on 21st Century Trade, the Taiwan-Canada Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and the Taiwan-U.K. Enhanced Trade Partnership Arrangement.

The delegation will highlight Taiwan’s advancement of inclusive, sustainable and transparent global trade, as well as reaffirm the government’s commitment to joining other regional trade organizations. Through this, the country can contribute to the development of more open and inclusive international trade rules, the OTN added.

Equally important, the OTN said Taiwan will raise concerns over matters such as overfishing and unfair government subsidies, call on the WTO to speed up restoration of dispute settlement mechanisms and urge member states to stop restricting food exports to ensure food security.

Since Taiwan became a WTO member in 2002, the country’s foreign trade has more than doubled in 22 years, the OTN said, adding that membership also fast-tracked implementation of the country’s trade liberalization, increased domestic economic competitiveness and expanded connectivity with the rest of the world. (SFC-E)