Taiwan'S Textile Industry Across The Taiwan Strait Has Advantages Outweigh Its Disadvantages.

Huang Weiji, Secretary General of Taiwan Textile Development Association, said in Hongkong today that the signing of the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) between the two sides of the Strait has more advantages than Taiwan's textile industry. At present, the 21 associations of the Taiwan textile industry support the signing of ECFA.

While attending a Taipei fashion show, Huang Weiji said that although a considerable proportion of consumers in Taiwan's domestic market were willing to buy clothes and accessories made in Taiwan, most consumers still considered the price. Because the price of clothing made in Taiwan was more expensive than that in the mainland and South East Asia, they had been engaged in domestic and export apparel enterprises in Taiwan in the past 12 years.

He added that at present, Taiwan clothing manufacturers do not consider the issue of prohibiting the entry of mainland textiles into Taiwan. Instead, they should consider how the Taiwan garment industry should take steps to go overseas when the ECFA is signed by the two sides.

Huang Weiji also pointed out that there are many consumers in mainland China who are interested in the design and manufacture of garments in Taiwan. Many mainland professionals who are engaged in import trade and distribution agents have expressed their hope to the textile industry association that they will have the opportunity to represent Taiwan brand fashion in the mainland.

He believes that if the two sides sign in May this year

Huang Weiji also pointed out that the total value of textiles imported from the mainland in Taiwan in 2007 was US $800 million, but the total value of textiles exported to the mainland in Taiwan amounted to US $3 billion 500 million. Taiwan has a trade surplus of 2 billion 700 million US dollars for the mainland's textile exports.

He said that once Taiwan implements zero tariffs on the mainland, assuming that all 23 million people in Taiwan buy mainland textiles, it is believed that the total value of mainland textile exports to Taiwan is only 15 to 1 billion 600 million dollars. On the contrary, after the mainland implements zero tariff, the upstream textile enterprises in Taiwan, including chemical fiber and fabrics, enjoy zero tariff treatment. It is estimated that the number of textiles exported to the mainland will increase several times.

Huang Weiji believes that after the signing of ECFA between the two sides, Taiwan's textile industry will do more harm than good. If the two sides do not sign ECFA, and South Korea will give priority to the implementation of customs duties with the mainland, it will seriously damage the survival space of Taiwan's textile industry. Therefore, 21 Trade Unions in Taiwan textile industry support the signing of ECFA on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Talking about the future of Taiwan's clothing industry,

To help Taiwan apparel industry open up the mainland market after signing ECFA on both sides of the Strait, the textile and Trade Association will help Taiwan clothing to get through the mainland's sales channels by organizing the Taiwanese apparel industry to participate in the mainland exhibition, and inviting the Chinese Department Store Association to Taiwan to identify designers and brand clothes.

The Taiwan garment industry organizes the clothing industry of Taiwan to participate in the fashion exhibition at the Hongkong Convention and Exhibition Center today, and arranges the famous designers of Taiwan to introduce the new generation fashion brand clothing of Asia this year, so that Taiwan brand fashion clothing will go to the international.