Taiwanese businesses optimistic about tax accord with China
Taipei, April 13 (CNA) Taiwanese business people on Monday said they are optimistic about a new tax agreement between Taiwan and China that is expected to be sealed soon, with many hoping that the accord can improve the competitiveness of local businesses.
Lai Cheng-i (賴正鎰), head of the General Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan, said the pact could help solve the long-lasting problem of double-taxation between the two sides and was the direction Taiwan had to take.
Taipei Chamber of Commerce Director-General Wang Ying-chieh (王應傑) said a formal agreement could prevent “unnecessary costs” for Taiwanese investors, explaining that there is currently no consistent rule that is legally applied across local governments in China.
Under the protection of a cross-strait deal, Taiwanese businesses could be more competitive, he said.
The tax agreement may be signed during the 11th round of high-level cross-Taiwan Strait talks possibly before the end of April.
The talks will be held between Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), the two main negotiating bodies of the two sides.
