3/1 北京实施「大气污染防治条例」

大陆北京市环保局正式实施「北京市大气污染防治条例」，在法律责任增加违法者的违法成本，其中，罚责事项共40条44个条款，在追究法律责任方面增加了「对同一单位2次以上的违法行为实行加倍处罚」的条款，对屡教不改者的处罚无上限。北京将在全市范围内开展「零点行动」，以燃煤锅炉执法检查为主，重点查处超标排放、治理设施不正常运行、偷排等违法行为。

3/1 大陆成为世界第一货物贸易大国

大陆商务部公布，据世界贸易组织秘书处初步统计，2013年大陆已成为世界第一货品贸易大国，每年进口近2兆美元商品，为全球贸易伙伴创造大量就业和投资机会。2013年大陆货物进出口总额为4.16兆美元，其中出口2.21兆美元，进口1.95兆美元。

3/3 上海自由贸易区放宽企业外汇放款限制

大陆国家外汇管理局上海分局发布外汇管理实施细则，将上海自由贸易区内企业境外外汇放款金额上限，由其所有者权益的30%调整至50%；而境内银行透过上海自由贸易区内的国际外汇资金主帐户吸收的存款，可在不超过10%的额度内在境内运用。

3/3 新台马轮营运使马祖交通更便利

新台马轮于高雄下水，实现马祖乡亲多年来的期盼，让离岛与本岛的交通更为顺畅及便利。新台马轮是5千吨的大型客货轮，由国人自行建造。政府希望透过离岛建设特别条例与基金，将马祖建设得更为亮丽，不仅缩短城乡差距，让国家发展更为均衡，且让离岛乡亲活得快乐、有尊严。

3/3 大陆召开「人大」、「政协」会议

大陆第12届「全国政协」及「全国人民代表大会」第2次会议分别于3日、5日在北京开幕。大陆总理李克强提出首份政府工作报告，将中共18届三中全会的全面深化改革内容，转变成大陆政府的具体政策，推进经济、财税等各领域改革，报告触及经济、政治、财税、国防、外交、社会民生、两岸等部分。其中对两岸关系的政策主张，将成为大陆新一届政府对台政策的主要方针和原则，攸关两岸关系发展方向。反贪腐议题也是今年两会焦点。

3/8 内阁配合组织改造局部改组期更增进人民福祉

行政院宣布行政务副秘书长由内政部政务次长萧家淇接任；内政部政务次长由交通部政务次长陈纯敬接任；交通部政务次长则由交通部常务次长陈建宇接任。

3/8 大陆2月出口锐减

大陆海关总署发布2月份出口为1,141亿美元，年减18.1％，为去年9月以来出口首次出现下滑，对美国出口下降11％，对欧盟出口降14％，对香港降24％；进口1,370.8亿美元，年增10.1％；贸易逆差229.8亿美元，去年同期为贸易顺差148亿美元。。

3/13      行政院会通过两岸条例部分条文修正草案

行政院会通过「台湾地区与大陆地区人民关系条例」（简称两岸条例）部分条文修正草案，将函请立法院审议，并撤回之前送立法院审议的修正草案。配合司法院释字第710号解释，揭示现行对于大陆地区人民强制出境及收容的相关规定，在正当法律程序及人身自由的制度性保障方面，尚有进一步强化的必要，并为符合「公民与政治权利国际公约」的精神，参考「入出国及移民法」部分条文修正草案，重行拟具两岸条例部分条文修正草案

3/13      行政院会通过「入出国及移民法」部分条文修正草案

行政院会通过「入出国及移民法」部分条文修正草案，将函请立法院审议。本次「入出国及移民法」修正案，以及「台湾地区与大陆地区人民关系条例」、「香港澳门关系条例」二修正案，均系配合司法院大法官解释，强化对于所收容外国人、大陆地区人民及港澳居民人身自由之保障，已列入立法院本会期优先审议通过之法案，早日完成修法，以符合释宪的要求。

3/18      马绍章副董事长赴海南、广西关怀台商

海基会马绍章副董事长于3月18日至3月23日率领「海基会关怀琼桂台商参访团」赴海南省三亚、海口及广西南宁、崇左、桂林等地进行6天参访，在所经城市台商座谈会中，除听取台商投资经营遭遇的问题，并向各地台商说明过去签署协议的执行成效。而为宣导政府近期重要大陆政策及未来签署两岸避免双重课税协议的效益，特别邀请财政部许虞哲次长及陆委会代表随团。

3/20      我2月外销订单较去年同期增5.7%

经济部公布2月外销订单，为307.1亿美元，较2013年同期增加5.7％，合计1、2月外销订单金额668.2亿美元，则较去年同期增加1％，其中，电子产品因手持行动装置需求续增，带动晶圆高阶制程、封测、晶片等接单稳定成长，加以资讯通信产品的行动装置组装代工，以及供应链接单续增，成为支撑接单持续成长的前两大货品。

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.