China and Taiwan resume merchandise trade talks, ignoring setbacks

Beijing resumed trade talks with Taipei yesterday, an indication that cross-strait relations will not be hampered by a string of controversies in Taiwan.

Ties have been strained by an alleged leak of classified information to the mainland by a former top Taiwanese negotiator, and the island's failure to implement a services trade pact last year.

The two sides restarted talks on the merchandise trade pact at a closed-door meeting in northern Taiwan. Yang Jen-ni, director general of Taiwan's Foreign Trade Bureau, is representing the island, while the mainland delegation is led by Chen Xing , head of the Commerce Ministry's Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs.

Officials said the venue for the talks was not made public because the negotiations were only preliminary.

The three-day talks will focus on lowering tariffs on the mainland for machine tools, flat-screen panels and petrochemicals. Taiwan also hopes for lower tariffs in the car industry, which would allow the island's manufacturers of vehicle parts greater access to one of the mainland's fastest growing markets.

The mainland was expected to push for greater access to Taiwan's agricultural, clothing, consumer products, steel and textile markets, officials said.