269期兩岸經貿大事紀

4/1        大陸《有機產品認證管理辦法》施行

大陸國家質檢總局修訂發布的《有機產品認證管理辦法》自2014年4月1日起施行，市場上銷售的有機產品，有機配料含量（指重量或者液體體積，不包括水和鹽）95%以上的加工產品，在獲得有機產品認證後，才可加上有機碼、認證機構名稱或有機產品認證標誌。違反規定而在產品或者產品包裝及標籤上標示含有「有機」、「ORGANIC」等字樣可能誤導公眾者，可處人民幣3萬元以下罰款。

4/3        行政院通過「臺灣地區與大陸地區訂定協議處理及監督條例」草案

行政院會通過「臺灣地區與大陸地區訂定協議處理及監督條例」草案（簡稱「兩岸協議監督條例」），函請立法院審議。因考量社會大眾對於兩岸協議監督及有無影響國家安全的高度關注，有必要透過更公開透明的程序，以利國會與社會各界檢視、瞭解協商過程及內容，行政院大陸委員會因此擬具該草案，結合「四階段對外溝通諮詢機制」及「國家安全審查機制」提出此一草案。

4/4        第8屆台美「貿易暨投資架構協定(TIFA)」會議在美國華府舉行

第8屆台美「貿易暨投資架構協定（TIFA）」會議在美國華府舉行，由經濟部卓次長士昭及美國代理副貿易代表Wendy Cutler擔任雙方主談人，雙方就投資、多邊及區域合作、智慧財產權、醫藥品、技術性貿易障礙及農業等進行討論。我方並在會中向美方說明台灣推動加入TPP的制度性改革情形，表達希望成為美國推動亞太經濟整合的建設性夥伴。

4/6        我國銀存款金額近31兆續創新高

金管會統計，39家國銀的存款總額，去年1月時約28.9兆元，去年9月首度跨越30兆元，截至今年2月底已達30.93兆，屬定期性存款金額占比超過4成，其次是活期性存款、公庫存款等。存款餘額排名居首的台銀存款餘額達3.39兆元；民營銀行部分，以中國信託吸收存款金額達1.72兆元最多。目前39家國銀逾放比都低於2％，平均逾放比則為0.35％，持續創下新低，而備抵呆帳覆蓋率352.08％，也再創新高，國銀資產品質維持歷來最佳的狀態。

4/8        2014年博鰲亞洲論壇海南舉行

2014年第13屆博鰲亞洲論壇，4月8日至11日在海南舉行，主題為「亞洲的新未來：尋找和釋放新的發展動力」，並聚焦於「改革」、「創新」及「可持續發展」三大主軸，探討亞洲和新興經濟體如何進行結構性的改革。我代表團由前副總統蕭萬長擔任團長，10日與大陸總理李克強見面時表示，未來兩岸雙方須以新的觀念和作法，從三大面向突破合作瓶頸。一是積極推動兩岸經濟戰略對話及政策協調；二是積極建構合作型的兩岸自由貿易關係；三是積極面對台灣參與區域經濟整合的嚴肅問題，化解台灣經濟遭到邊緣化的疑慮。

4/15     林中森董事長率文化參訪團赴雲南、山東

海基會林中森董事長於4月15日至4月21日率領「海基會文化參訪團」赴雲南、山東等地進行7天參訪。林董事長一行除於雲南與海協會會長陳德銘會晤外，並在與雲南省委書記秦光榮、山東省委書記姜異康會見時表示，兩岸同時將文化產業列為未來發展重點，希望加強兩岸文化交流。期間參觀雲南大學國家文化產業研究中心、孔廟及泰山等世界文化遺產，亦參訪台商紅木家具產業、參觀壽光蔬菜博覽會等。在與西南西北地區台商協會會長及濰坊台商座談時，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。

4/16     陸客來台自由行人數調高至每日4千人

內政部移民署4月16日起調高陸客來台自由行人數配額，從每日3,000人調高至4,000人，有助提升陸客來台人數、增加台灣觀光業產值。今年首季，陸客自由行入境人數已超過25萬人，平均每月有8萬名自由行陸客入境。觀光局估算，陸客自由行在台以每人每天消費245.34美元計算，增加1,000名陸客，每天可為台灣觀光相關產業增加新台幣700多萬元收入。在陸客團客方面，首季入境人數達52萬人，3月單月達22萬人次，創下陸客團體旅遊開辦以來的單月新高。

4/16     大陸首季GDP成長率7.4%

大陸國家統計局發布，2014年第一季經濟成長率7.4%，為24年來最低水準，也不如官方公布7.5%成長目標。大陸國務院總理李克強表示，第一季經濟成長增速處於年度預期目標範圍內，經濟運行保持在合理區間，目前沒有擴大赤字並採取「強刺激」的考慮。

4/18     大陸FDI 14個月首見負成長

大陸商務部公布，今年3月份的實際使用外資（FDI）為122.4億美元，創下近9個月以來的新高，但卻比去年同期下滑1.47％，是2013年1月以來首度負成長，第一季的FDI總額為315億美元，成長5.5％。在亞洲國家中，首季東協對大陸投資實際金額為19.66億美元，成長7.84％，保持穩定。香港成長11.29％，南韓對大陸投資則暴增162％。

4/18     採認大陸學歷　增18所

教育部宣布，增加採認18所大陸地區高等教育機構的學歷，目前採認名單已達129所。原認可的111所大學，以綜合大學為主，藝術類、體育類、音樂類各只有1所，這次補上15所專業教學水準高的獨立學校。另外，教育部也將大陸3個科學研究機構納入採認，包括中國科學院、中國科學院大學、中國社會科學院。依照「大陸地區學歷採認辦法」規定，採認追溯至2010年9月3日當學期或以後取得的學位，1992年9月18日至2010年9月2日間取得的學位，則需參加學歷甄試。

Chronicle of Cross-strait Economic and Trade Events

May, 2014  No.269

4/1        Mainland enacts Administrative Measures for Organic Product Certification

The mainland's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) announced that the revised "Administrative Measures for Organic Product Certification" came into effect on April 1, 2014. The measures stipulate that products sold on the market may only be affixed with an organic code, along with the name of the certification body or organic product certification mark, only if 95% or more of the processed product is made with organic ingredients (by weight or liquid volume, excluding water and salt) and the product passes organic certification. Companies violating the provisions through the misleading use of word "organic" on their products or product packaging and labeling may be subject to fines up to RMB30,000.

4/3        Executive Yuan approves draft Statute for the Processing and Monitoring of Agreements between the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area

The Executive Yuan approved Statute for the Processing and Monitoring of Agreements between the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area draft (the "Cross-strait Agreement Supervisory Act" ) and submitted it to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation. The act responds to the high level of public concern over cross-strait agreement supervision and the impact of the agreements on national security, as well as demands for a more open and transparent process. The draft statute was formulated by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) to facilitate congressional and the public review and understanding of the negotiation process through a "four-stage external communication and consultation mechanism" and "national security review mechanism."

4/4        8th TIFA meeting held in Washington, DC

The 8th Taiwan-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) meeting was held in Washington, DC. Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Cho Shih-chao and U.S. Acting Deputy Trade Representative Wendy Cutler served as chief negotiators for the two sides. During the meeting, the two sides discussed issues related to investment, multilateral and regional cooperation, intellectual property rights, pharmaceuticals, technical barriers to trade and agriculture. The Taiwan side briefed the U.S. side on the status of institutional reforms related to Taiwan's bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and expressed hope that Taiwan could become a constructive partner of the U.S. in promoting economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region.

4/6        Taiwan bank deposits reach a new high of nearly NT$31 trillion

According to statistics compiled by the Financial Supervisory Commission, the total deposit amount at Taiwan's 39 domestic banks totaled NT$30.93 trillion as of the end of February this year. The figure stood at about NT$28.9 trillion in January last year and crossed the NT$30 trillion mark for the first time last September. Time deposits accounted for more than 40% of the total, followed by demand deposits and public treasury deposits as the next biggest categories. The Bank of Taiwan, Taiwan's biggest deposit taker, had a total deposit balance of NT$3.39 trillion. Among private banks, Chinatrust had the highest deposit amount at NT$1.72 trillion. All 39 domestic banks have non-performing loan (NPL) ratios below 2%, with the average NPL ratio at a record low 0.35%. At the same time, the banks' coverage ratio of allowance for uncollectable accounts stood at 352.08%, also a record high, indicating that the asset quality of domestic banks is at an all-time high.

4/8        2014 Boao Forum for Asia held in Hainan

The 13th Boao Forum for Asia was held on April 8 to 11 in Hainan under the theme "Asia's New Future: Identifying New Growth Drivers." The forum explored structural reforms for Asia and emerging economies, focusing on the three keynotes of "reform," "innovation" and "sustainable development." Former vice president Vincent Siew led the Taiwan delegation. During a meeting with mainland Premier Li Keqiang on April 10, Mr. Siew urged the two sides to embrace new ideas and practices in the future and overcome bottlenecks to cooperation in three major regards: 1) actively promoting cross-strait economic strategic dialogue and policy coordination; 2) actively establishing cooperative cross-strait free trade relations; and 3) actively facing the serious issue of Taiwan's participation in regional economic integration to defuse concerns over the marginalization of Taiwan's economy.

4/15     Chairman Lin Join-sane leads cultural mission to Yunnan and Shandong

SEF Chairman Lin Join-sane led an "SEF Cultural Mission" to Yunnan, Shandong and other areas in the mainland for a seven-day visit from April 15 to 21. Chairman Lin and the delegation met with ARATS Chairman Chen Deming in Yunnan. During meetings with Yunnan Provincial Committee Secretary Qin Guangrong and Shandong Provincial Committee Secretary Jiang Yikang, Chairman Lin noted that both sides are prioritizing development of cultural industries and expressed hope that the two sides could strengthen exchanges in this area. The delegation also visited the National Research Center for Cultural Industry at Yunnan University, the Confucius Temple, Taishan and other world cultural heritage sites, as well as Taiwanese mahogany furniture companies and the Shouguang Vegetable Expo. During meetings with the presidents of Taiwan Business Associations in southwest and northwest China and Taiwan businesspeople in Weifang, the delegation listened to the investment and operational problems encountered by Taiwanese companies and explained the results of the cross-strait agreements signed to date.

4/16     Taiwan raises the daily quota for independent travel by mainland tourists to 4,000 arrivals

The National Immigration Agency under the Ministry of the Interior increased the daily quota for independent travel to Taiwan by mainland tourists to 4,000 arrivals, up from 3,000 originally. The higher quota will help to increase the number of mainland tourist arrivals to Taiwan and boost the value of Taiwan's tourism industry. In the first quarter this year, the number of independent mainland tourist arrivals exceeded 250,000, representing a monthly average of more than 80,000. The Tourism Bureau forecasts that the increased quota will generate more than NT$7 million per day in new revenue for tourism-related industries, based on estimated average daily spending of US$245.34 per person by independent mainland tourists in Taiwan. In the group tourist segment, Taiwan received 520,000 arrivals from the mainland in the first quarter of the year. The single month figure for March reached an all-time record high of 220,000.

4/16     Mainland GDP grows by 7.4% in the first quarter

The National Bureau of Statistics announced that the mainland economy grew at an annual pace of 7.4% in the first quarter of 2014. This was the lowest level in 24 years and also fell short of the official growth target of 7.5%. PRC Premier Li Keqiang said that the pace of economic growth in the first quarter was within range of the forecast annual target and that the economy continued to operate in a reasonable range. He added that there are no plans to expand deficit spending or take "strong stimulus" measures.

4/18     Mainland FDI contracts for the first time in 14 months

Mainland China's Ministry of Commerce announced that the amount of actually utilized foreign direct investment (FDI) in March this year reached a nine-month high of US$12.24 billion, but fell 1.47% year-over-year, marking the first retreat since January 2013. FDI in the first quarter gained 5.5% to US$31.5 billion. Among Asian countries, the actual amount of ASEAN investment in the mainland in first quarter was US$1.966 billion, up by 7.84%, while investment from Hong Kong increased by 11.29% and investment from South Korean surged by 162%.

4/18     Taiwan adds 18 mainland schools to list of recognized academic credentials

The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that it would recognize academic credentials from 18 additional institutions of higher education in the mainland area, bringing the total number of qualifying institutions to 129. Integrated universities account for the bulk of the previously approved 111 institutions, with only one institution each in the art, sports and music categories. Among the new additions, 15 are independent schools with high professional teaching standards. The MOE also added three scientific research institutes, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. According to provisions in the Regulations on Recognition of Academic Credentials from the Mainland Area, recognition applies retroactively to degrees earned from the semester starting on September 3, 2010. A test of educational diploma is required for degrees earned from September 18, 1992 to September 2, 2010.