Taiwan, Japan make progress on negotiating tax agreement
Taipei, Oct. 22 (CNA) Taiwan and Japan have made progress on negotiating a double taxation avoidance agreement, and are expected to sign more bilateral economic and trade-related pacts in the next few months, a Taiwanese foreign affairs official said Thursday.
“The two sides have continued to negotiate the agreement on double taxation avoidance and some progress has been made,” said Chang Jen-joe (張仁久), secretary-general of the Association of East Asian Relations, which is responsible for dealing with ties with Japan in the absence of bilateral diplomatic relations.
He was responding to questions on the issue of signing a double taxation avoidance agreement with Japan at a news briefing.
Chang said there has been some “positive development,” but he declined to divulge details.
Taiwan and Japan have been in talks on such a deal for about two years, he said, adding that the ministry will make an announcement when the details are finalized.
On the issue of Taiwan-Japan relations, the two sides have signed 25 agreements since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office in May 2008, covering areas such as trade, investment, finance, air transport and fisheries.
In response to reporters’ questions, Chang said that more agreements are expected to be signed in the coming months before Ma steps down as he completes his second and final four-year term in May 2016.
But he declined to provide more information on possible agreements to be signed in the near future, saying that the ministry will only make announcements once such pacts are finalized.
