WT/MIN(17)/ST/32  
 
13 December 2017  
(17-6915) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR  JOHN CHEN -CHUNG DENG  
CHIEF TRADE REPRESEN TATIVE  
SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF TAIWAN , PENGHU , KINMEN AND MATSU 
I must start by thanking the government of Argentina for its kind hospitality and for organizing 
this Conference. I am refreshed by the enthusiastic welcome in the famous "good air" and "fair 
winds" of Buenos Aires, and trust that we are ready to sail off together from here in the right 
direction.   
Since the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  became a Member in 
2002, we have continuously and actively participated in the WTO. Along with all other Members, 
we have been supportin g the non -discriminatory, ruled -based, transparent, deve lopment -
conscientious, free and open multilateral trading system built to realize the aims of global 
economic integration and stabilizing  the world trading regime. Once  again, we stand on guard 
firmly to these values.  
The Separate Customs Territory of Tai wan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  is thrilled to learn that the 
WTO’s upward revision of trade forecast, which foresees stro nger trade volume growth of 3.6 % in 
2017 and 3.2% in 2018. We believe that this reflects our recent achievement and efforts made in 
the WTO such as bringing into force and implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), 
the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement, as well as the expansion of the Information 
Technology Agreement (ITA).  
Facing the current global and regional economi c challenges, the Separate Customs Territory of 
Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  strongly advocates that WTO Members shall pursue free trade 
to the fullest extent on a mutually beneficial basis for a better shared future. Bilateral and regional 
multilatera l trade negotiations should be encouraged and expanded, allowing more members to 
participate.   
The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu plays an integral, 
indispensable role in the glob al supply and demand chains. We  have always s trived to share our 
economic development experience with fellow WTO Members, and looked towards establishing free 
trade relations with trading partners and participating i n sub -regional economic integration efforts 
such as the CPTPP and RCEP.   
Here in Bue nos Aires, we uphold and urge all Members to seize the opportunity to place micro, 
small, and medium -sized enterprises (MSMEs) and e -commerce at the heart of the discussions and 
to conceive active responses to the present and the future challenges. The MSM Es need to be 
integrated into the global value chains and harness the opportunities in the digital economy era. 
It is imperative that the WTO make itself a pioneer and relevant to such a development.  
I. On MSMEs:  
Improving MSMEs’ capabilities in internationa l trade through a business -friendly regulatory 
environment worldwide is one of the most direct ways for the WTO to regain its relevance. It is 
especially meaningful in the context of a trade agenda focused on development.  WT/MIN(17)/ST/32  
 
- 2 - 
 
  MSMEs continue to be the backbone  and one of the main driving forces of the Separate Customs 
Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu's  economic development over the past half 
century. In 2016, the number of MSMEs reached a record level of 1.4 million and accounted for 
97.73% of all enterpri ses. In addition, 8.8  million people working in MSMEs represented 78.2% of 
our total employment, which is also a record high in recent years. These statistics clearly illustrate 
that MSMEs function as a stabilizing force in the labour market and a key driver of our economic 
development.  
Through improving the transparency of regulatory measures, the access to finance, and 
continuous capacity building, we trust that the MSMEs worldwide better positioned in the global 
economy.  
In this sense, the Sepa rate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  proudly 
joined with other "Friend of MSMEs " to urge all WTO  Members to continue discussions in all the 
areas mentioned above and examine the progress at our next Ministerial Conference.  
II. On e-commerce:  
More than a decade of time has passed since we had the 1998 e -commerce work program. I would 
like to urge my fellow ministers to consider seriously on how we should go from here. It will be a 
pity if we fail to see the opportunities we have lost and contin ue on the debate of mandate. We are 
the ones who give mandates. We need an e -commerce Preparatory Group to carry out 
preparations for negotiations so as to salvage the credibility of WTO and our legacy as defenders 
of trade. We could not afford to lose ano ther decade standing and talking.  
The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  recognises that digital 
economy is one of the most crucial drivers of global inclusive economic growth and plays a 
significant role in accelerating econom ic development, enhancing productivity of existing 
industries, cultivating new markets and industries, and achieving inclusive sustainable growth and 
development. We look forward to the final removal of e -commerce trade barriers in all forms, 
before, durin g and after transaction. Respecting free flow of information, IPR protection, consumer 
protection, and privacy are equally important if we want to build up trust in our society. In this 
respect, the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  has revised its 
Consumer Protection Act in 2015, Personal Information Protection Act in 2016 to make our society 
more "e -commerce friendly"  and harness the potential of the digital economy and for the 
successful digitalisation of production and servi ces. 
While pleading to all fellow WTO Members, the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, 
Kinmen and Matsu  has already stepped up our efforts in domestic reforms in these areas. The 
most prominent examples are the Amendment of the Fisheries Act, the  Amendment of Regulations 
on the Investment in the Operation of Foreign Flag Fishing Vessels, and a brand new Statute for 
Distant Water Fishing in 2016. These  three instruments now is our package to prevent overfishing 
and excess fishing capacity. In  addition, the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, 
Kinmen and Matsu  now provides 60 days for comments when a proposed regulation is published in 
order to increase the overall transparency in our trade and investment regime. As a result, we 
encourage al l Members to show flexibility and take concrete actions to overcome the current 
impasse, and to safeguard these fundamentals of the WTO.  
We meet at a time when the regional and global landscapes have experienced complex and 
fundamental shift with challenge s and opportunities, and we believe every topic relates to each 
other. Let’s remain an open mind to all of them and commit to work with one another towards a 
successful 11th WTO Ministerial Conference.  
__________