EU-Taiwan trade and investment relations
24.10.2023
Question for oral answer O-000046/2023
to the Commission
Rule 136
Iuliu Winkler
on behalf of the Committee on International Trade
Taiwan has been a member of the World Trade Organization since 2002 and has signed bilateral free trade and investment agreements with more than 30 countries in the world. Taiwan is of key importance for high-tech critical supply chains such as semiconductors (it produces over 60 % of the world’s semiconductors). In 2022, Taiwan was our 12th most important partner for trade in goods and the EU was the largest investor in Taiwan.
The 2021 Indo-Pacific strategy mentions that ‘the EU will also pursue its deep trade and investment relationships with partners with whom it does not have trade and investment agreements, such as Taiwan’. A European Parliament resolution from 15 September 2022[1] builds on this, calling for the EU to enhance the existing partnership with Taiwan, including by pursuing a resilient supply chain agreement.
During the hearing in the Committee on International Trade of 19 July 2023, a discussion was held on the various ways in which relations have been improved, referencing the important work of the Trade and Investment Dialogue between the EU and Taiwan. Some trade irritants, which are hindering the relationship from reaching its true potential, were also mentioned.
- 1.What are the areas in which the Commission sees room for improvement of our trade and investment relations with Taiwan, what barriers to trade and investment have been identified and how could these be tackled?
- 2.How is the Commission planning to further deepen the trade and investment relationship with Taiwan, boosting the EU’s and Taiwan’s resilience against geopolitical shocks and strengthening European open strategic autonomy?
- 3.Is the Commission willing to start exploring options for a resilient supply chain agreement between the EU and Taiwan?
- 4.What are the next steps and the timeline envisaged by the Commission for these actions?
Submitted: 24.10.2023
Lapses: 25.1.2024
- [1] European Parliament resolution of 15 September 2022 on the situation in the Strait of Taiwan, OJ C 125, 5.4.2023, p. 149.