Taiwan's CPTPP Bid Stalls; KMT Proposes Restructuring Trade Office

Taiwan's aspiration to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is encountering substantial obstacles, with its application stalled at the preliminary stage of not having a working group established. A key impediment is Vietnam's adherence to the "one China" policy, as Vietnam currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the CPTPP.

The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party has put forth a proposal demanding an immediate restructuring of the Executive Yuan's Office of Trade Negotiations. The KMT argues that the prolonged vacancy of the chief negotiator position hinders the advancement of Taiwan's accession bid. The party advocates for the elimination of ideological interference and cronyism, urging a return to professionalism in external negotiations to facilitate tangible progress in joining the CPTPP.

Taiwan formally applied to join the CPTPP in September 2021 under the designation "Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu," a customs territory. Initially, under Japan's chairmanship, Taiwan amended its laws and lifted import restrictions on food products from five Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, to ease accession. However, these efforts did not lead to entry, and Japan's representative in Taiwan later stated that the Fukushima food issue was separate from CPTPP accession.

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We are not doing our job if it doesn’t feel difficult.

Subsequent attempts to use substantive cooperation as a transitional strategy with rotating chair countries like Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia have also failed to produce significant results. The KMT's proposal highlights media reports revealing dissatisfaction within the Office of Trade Negotiations, stemming from the resignation letter of former deputy chief negotiator Yen Hui-hsin. Despite Premier Cho Jung-tai's stated intention to focus on CPTPP negotiations after concluding talks with the United States, the uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariff policies and Vietnam's "one China" stance continue to complicate Taiwan's accession efforts.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs' International Trade Administration has emphasized the "absolute benefit" of CPTPP membership for Taiwan's global trade layout and its integration with advanced economies. The KMT's proposal underscores the need for a stable and rational approach to cross-strait interactions, advocating for a professionalized negotiation process to overcome the current stalemate and achieve substantive progress in Taiwan's CPTPP application.

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Oh, at least.