FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE������� ����������������������� �� ����Contact: Jim Dyke/Curt Cultice
Wednesday, January 2, 2001��������������� ����������������������� ����������������������� (202) 482-4883/3809

Statement by Commerce Secretary Don Evans on Taiwan’s Entry
Into the World Trade Organization

On January 1, Taiwan officially became the 144^th member of the World Trade Organization.

I congratulate Taiwan on this historic achievement.

Taiwan’s accession to the WTO will further open Taiwan’s market to American exports of industrial goods and services, including key telecommunications and financial services sectors.

The average Taiwan tariff on industrial products will be cut from 6 percent to less than 5 percent, and Taiwan also will liberalize its agricultural trade sector.�� It will open its procurement market to U.S. bidders in areas such as power‑generation, transport and power transmission services.� Taiwan will also eliminate tariffs in the aircraft sector and select aircraft suppliers based on commercial considerations only.�

Taiwan has joined the WTO at a historic moment, and we look forward to its full participation in future WTO work.

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