Mainland-Taiwan accord boosts cross-strait trade since implementation
SINCE the mainland-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) was implemented in three years, cross-strait trade products listed in the agreement have progressively gone zero-tariff, which have dramatically boosted cross-strait trade.
Being one of the closest cities to Taiwan, Xiamen recorded a ECFA product trade value of US$1.45 billion during the three years, which was surging at an annual rate of nearly 100 per cent. Tariff-free or reduced items came to CNY593 million (US$97.98 million).
In 2013, Xiamen's ECFA product trade value soared 262 per cent over 2011 to $771 million. Tariff-free or reduced items surged 404 per cent from 2011 to CNY306 million.
Fruit was the first batch of ECFA products to enjoy zero-tariff policy. In 2013, Xiamen's imported tariff-free fruit from Taiwan weighed 12,000 tonnes, up 41.18 per cent from 2012, taking up 35.76 per cent of mainland's total of fruit imports from Taiwan.
