3/1 北京實施「大氣污染防治條例」

大陸北京市環保局正式實施「北京市大氣污染防治條例」，在法律責任增加違法者的違法成本，其中，罰責事項共40條44個條款，在追究法律責任方面增加了「對同一單位2次以上的違法行為實行加倍處罰」的條款，對屢教不改者的處罰無上限。北京將在全市範圍內開展「零點行動」，以燃煤鍋爐執法檢查為主，重點查處超標排放、治理設施不正常運行、偷排等違法行為。

3/1 大陸成為世界第一貨物貿易大國

大陸商務部公布，據世界貿易組織秘書處初步統計，2013年大陸已成為世界第一貨品貿易大國，每年進口近2兆美元商品，為全球貿易夥伴創造大量就業和投資機會。2013年大陸貨物進出口總額為4.16兆美元，其中出口2.21兆美元，進口1.95兆美元。

3/3 上海自由貿易區放寬企業外匯放款限制

大陸國家外匯管理局上海分局發布外匯管理實施細則，將上海自由貿易區內企業境外外匯放款金額上限，由其所有者權益的30%調整至50%；而境內銀行透過上海自由貿易區內的國際外匯資金主帳戶吸收的存款，可在不超過10%的額度內在境內運用。

3/3 新台馬輪營運使馬祖交通更便利

新台馬輪於高雄下水，實現馬祖鄉親多年來的期盼，讓離島與本島的交通更為順暢及便利。新台馬輪是5千噸的大型客貨輪，由國人自行建造。政府希望透過離島建設特別條例與基金，將馬祖建設得更為亮麗，不僅縮短城鄉差距，讓國家發展更為均衡，且讓離島鄉親活得快樂、有尊嚴。

3/3 大陸召開「人大」、「政協」會議

大陸第12屆「全國政協」及「全國人民代表大會」第2次會議分別於3日、5日在北京開幕。大陸總理李克強提出首份政府工作報告，將中共18屆三中全會的全面深化改革內容，轉變成大陸政府的具體政策，推進經濟、財稅等各領域改革，報告觸及經濟、政治、財稅、國防、外交、社會民生、兩岸等部分。其中對兩岸關係的政策主張，將成為大陸新一屆政府對台政策的主要方針和原則，攸關兩岸關係發展方向。反貪腐議題也是今年兩會焦點。

3/8 內閣配合組織改造局部改組期更增進人民福祉

行政院宣布行政務副秘書長由內政部政務次長蕭家淇接任；內政部政務次長由交通部政務次長陳純敬接任；交通部政務次長則由交通部常務次長陳建宇接任。

3/8 大陸2月出口銳減

大陸海關總署發布2月份出口為1,141億美元，年減18.1％，為去年9月以來出口首次出現下滑，對美國出口下降11％，對歐盟出口降14％，對香港降24％；進口1,370.8億美元，年增10.1％；貿易逆差229.8億美元，去年同期為貿易順差148億美元。。

3/13      行政院會通過兩岸條例部分條文修正草案

行政院會通過「臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例」（簡稱兩岸條例）部分條文修正草案，將函請立法院審議，並撤回之前送立法院審議的修正草案。配合司法院釋字第710號解釋，揭示現行對於大陸地區人民強制出境及收容的相關規定，在正當法律程序及人身自由的制度性保障方面，尚有進一步強化的必要，並為符合「公民與政治權利國際公約」的精神，參考「入出國及移民法」部分條文修正草案，重行擬具兩岸條例部分條文修正草案

3/13      行政院會通過「入出國及移民法」部分條文修正草案

行政院會通過「入出國及移民法」部分條文修正草案，將函請立法院審議。本次「入出國及移民法」修正案，以及「臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例」、「香港澳門關係條例」二修正案，均係配合司法院大法官解釋，強化對於所收容外國人、大陸地區人民及港澳居民人身自由之保障，已列入立法院本會期優先審議通過之法案，早日完成修法，以符合釋憲的要求。

3/18      馬紹章副董事長赴海南、廣西關懷台商

海基會馬紹章副董事長於3月18日至3月23日率領「海基會關懷瓊桂台商參訪團」赴海南省三亞、海口及廣西南寧、崇左、桂林等地進行6天參訪，在所經城市台商座談會中，除聽取台商投資經營遭遇的問題，並向各地台商說明過去簽署協議的執行成效。而為宣導政府近期重要大陸政策及未來簽署兩岸避免雙重課稅協議的效益，特別邀請財政部許虞哲次長及陸委會代表隨團。

3/20      我2月外銷訂單較去年同期增5.7%

經濟部公布2月外銷訂單，為307.1億美元，較2013年同期增加5.7％，合計1、2月外銷訂單金額668.2億美元，則較去年同期增加1％，其中，電子產品因手持行動裝置需求續增，帶動晶圓高階製程、封測、晶片等接單穩定成長，加以資訊通信產品的行動裝置組裝代工，以及供應鏈接單續增，成為支撐接單持續成長的前兩大貨品。

April, 2014  No.268

Chronicle of Cross-strait Economic and Trade Events

3/1 Beijing enacts Air Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Environmental Protection officially enacted the Beijing Air Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations. The regulations increase the legal cost of liabilities for offenders, including 44 penalty provisions under 40 articles. Double penalties are mandated for repeat offenses by the same unit, with no ceiling on the penalty amount in cases where the offender has repeatedly failed to make improvements. Beijing will launch a city-wide "zero-tolerance" law enforcement inspection campaign focused on excessive emissions, inoperational treatment facilities, illegal emissions and other illegal acts by polluters, primarily coal-fired boiler operators.

3/1 Mainland becomes the world's biggest trader of goods

Mainland China's Ministry of Commerce announced that, according to preliminary statistics compiled by the World Trade Organization Secretariat, the mainland became the world's biggest commodity trading power in 2013. The mainland annually imports nearly US$2 trillion in goods, creating substantial employment and investment opportunities for global trading partners. In 2013, the mainland's total imports and exports of goods were US$4.16 trillion, including export and import amounts of US$2.21 trillion and US$1.95 trillion, respectively.

3/3 Shanghai Free Trade Zone to relax foreign currency lending limit for businesses

The mainland's State Administration of Foreign Exchange Shanghai Branch announced implementation rules for foreign exchange management. The new regulations increase the cap on overseas foreign exchange loans for enterprises in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone to 50% of owner's equity, up from 30% originally. Moreover, domestic banks can domestically use up to 10% of the funds absorbed from master accounts for international foreign exchange funds in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

3/3 Taima Star makes Travel to Matsu more convenient

The Taima Star was launched in Kaohsiung, realizing the hopes of the residents of Matsu for smoother and more convenient transportation between the outlying islands and the main island of Taiwan. The Taima Star is a 5,000-ton passenger and cargo ship built in Taiwan. The government has introduced special measures and funds to develop outlying islands, aiming to reduce the gap between urban and rural areas, allow for more balanced national development and improve the lives of island residents.

3/3 Mainland convenes "National People's Congress," "CPPCC" conference

The mainland convened the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee and Second Session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on March 3 and 5, respectively. Mainland Premier Li Keqiang presented his first Government Work Report, which described ways that the mainland government will turn the reforms proposed at the Third Plenum of the 18th Chinese Communist Party Congress into concrete policy and advance reforms in economic, fiscal and other areas. The report also touched on economic, political, tax, defense, diplomacy, livelihood and cross-strait affairs. The outlined policy position on cross-strait relations will become the main guideline and principle of the new mainland government's Taiwan policy and set the direction for the development of cross-strait relations. Anti-corruption will also be a focus of the CPPCC National Committee and NPC this year.

3/8 Cabinet reshuffled to further advance the well being of the people

The Executive Yuan announced the appointment of Deputy Minister of the Interior (MOI) Hsiao Chia-chi as Deputy Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan. He was succeeded at the MOI by Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Chun-ching, who in turn was succeeded by Administrative Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Chien-yu.

3/8 Mainland exports drop in February

Mainland China's General Administration of Customs announced that exports from the mainland in February fell 18.1% year-on-year to US$114.1 billion, marking the first export drop since September last year. Exports to the U.S., European Union and Hong Kong fell by 11%, 14% and 24%, respectively. In the same comparison period, imports increased by 10.1% to US$137.08 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of US$22.98 billion, compared to a US$14.8 billion surplus in the same period of last year.

3/13      Executive Yuan approves draft amendments to the Cross-Strait Act

The Executive Yuan approved draft amendments to the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. The draft was submitted to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation and an earlier version of the draft was revoked. Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 710 ruled that provisions under the current Cross-Strait Act related to the deportation and detention of people from the mainland area needed to be strengthened in terms of institutional safeguards for due process and personal freedom. The revisions to the Cross-Strait Act accord with the Judicial Yuan ruling. They are also rooted in the spirit of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and were drafted in reference to draft amendments to the Immigration Act.

3/13      Executive Yuan approves draft amendments to the Immigration Act

The Executive Yuan approved draft amendments to the Immigration Act and submitted the revised act to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation. The amendments, along with revisions to the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area and the Act Governing Relations with Hong Kong and Macau, all accord with an interpretation by the Judicial Yuan . The changes strengthen the protection of the personal freedom of foreigners and people from the mainland area, Hong Kong and Macao during detention in Taiwan. The drafts were submitted for priority deliberation and approval during the current session of the Legislative Yuan, paving the way for early completion of the legislative process in keeping with the requirements of the interpretation.

3/18      SEF Vice Chairman Ma Shao-chang visits Taiwan businesspeople in Hainan and Guangxi

SEF Vice Chairman Ma Shao-chang led a mission to visit Taiwan businesspeople in Hainan and Guangxi provinces on March 18 to 23. The group stopped in Sanya and Haikou in Hainan and Nanning, Chongzuo and Guilin in Guangxi during the six-day visit. At Taiwan business forums held at the cities on the itinerary, Vice Chairman Ma listened to the investment and operational problems encountered by Taiwan companies. He also explained to the Taiwan businesspeople the benefits of the cross-strait agreements signed to date. Administrative Deputy Minister of Finance Sheu Yu-jer and MAC representatives also joined the delegation to promote the government's major mainland policies and the benefits of the Cross-Strait Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, slated to be signed in the future.

3/20      Taiwan's export orders increase 5.7% year-on-year

The Ministry of Economic Affairs announced that Taiwan's export orders in February reached US$30.71 billion, up 5.7% from the same month in 2013. Export orders for January and February totaled US$66.82 billion, up 1% from the same period last year. Export orders for electronic products continued to grow due to increasing demand for handheld mobile devices, spurring a steady increase in orders for advanced wafer processing, testing, packaging and chips. OEM assembly of mobile devices and supply chain orders also gained, making these segments the top-two product categories in terms of export order growth.