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​CROSS-STRAIT SIGNED AGREEMENTS 

Between 2008 and 2016, the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS)  held 11 rounds of high-level talks.  The talks resulted in the two sides signing 23 agreements and issuing two consensuses as well as three common opinions. In addition the two sides signed numerous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

• Agreements, Consensuses, and Opinions
• Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA)
• ECFA (FULL TEXT)
• Kinmen Accord
• MoU

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SEF-ARATS CONSULTATIONS

SEF-ARATS: 23 Signed Agreements

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​The Eleventh Round of Cross-Strait High Level Talks (August 24-26, 2015) (Fuzhou) 

• Cross-Strait Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Enhancement of Tax Cooperation  
• Cross-Strait Collaboration Agreement on Flight Safety and Airworthiness 

The Tenth Round of Cross-Strait High Level Talks (February 26-28, 2014) (Taipei)

• Cross-Strait Collaboration Agreement on Meteorology

The Ninth Round of Cross-Strait High-Level Talks (June 20-22, 2013) (Shanghai)

• Cross-Strait Agreement on Trade in Services 

The Eighth Chiang-Chen Talks (August 8-10, 2012) (Taipei)

• Cross-Strait Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement
• Cross-Strait Customs Cooperation Agreement
• Common Declaration of the Straits Exchange Foundation and Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits on the Protection of Personal Freedom and Safety under the “Cross-Strait Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement”

​The Seventh Chiang-Chen Talks (October 19-21, 2011) (Tianjin) 

• Cross-Strait Nuclear Power Cooperation Safety Agreement
• Cross-Strait Investment Protection Agreement

​The Sixth Chiang-Chen Talks (December 20-22, 2010) (Taipei)

• ​​Cross-Strait Agreement on Medical and Health Cooperation

The Fifth Chiang-Chen Talks (June 28-30, 2010) (Chongqing)

• ​Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA)
• Cross-Strait Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights Protection and Cooperation

The Fourth Chiang-Chen Talks (December 21-25, 2009) (Taichung)

• Cross-Strait Agreement on Cooperation in Quarantine and Inspection of Agricultural Products
• Cross-Strait Agreement on Cooperation in Respect of Standards, Metrology, Inspection and Accreditation
• Cross-Strait Agreement on Cooperation in Respect of Fishing Crew Affairs

The Third Chiang-Chen Talks (April 25-29, 2009) (Nanjing)

• Cross-Strait Agreement on Joint Crime-Fighting and Judicial Mutual Assistance
• Cross-Strait Financial Cooperation Agreement
• Supplementary Agreement on Cross-Strait Air Transport

The Second Chiang-Chen Talks (November 4, 2008)

• Cross-Strait Air Transport Agreement (Excerpt)
• Cross-Strait Sea Transport Agreement (Excerpt)
• Cross-Strait Postal Service Agreement (Excerpt)
• Cross-Strait Food Safety Agreement (Excerpt)

The First Chiang-Chen Talks (June 13, 2008) 

• ​Minutes of Talks on Cross-Strait Charter Flights (Full Text)
• Cross-Strait Agreement on Mainland Tourists Traveling to Taiwan (Full Text)

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SEF-ARATS: Two Consensuses

​The Eighth Chiang-Chen Talks (August 8-10, 2012) (Taipei)

• Consensus on the Protection of Personal Freedom and Safety 

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​The Third Chiang-Chen Talks (April 26, 2009)

• Consensus on Mainland Investment in Taiwan

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SEF-ARATS: Three Common Opinions

​The Ninth Chiang-Chen Talks

• Joint Opinion on Resolving the Water Supply Problem in Kinmen

​The Seventh Chiang-Chen Talks

• Joint Opinion of the SEF and the ARATS on Strengthening Cross-Strait Industrial Cooperation (2011)
• Joint Opinion of the SEF and the ARATS on Advancing Negotiations on the Cross-Strait Investment Protection Agreement (2011)

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Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA)

Reaching an agreement on signing an economic pact between the PRC and Taiwan reaches as far back as to 2005.   In April 2005,  the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Kuomintang (KMT) issued a joint communiqué on the "Common Aspiration and Prospects for Cross-Straits Peace and Development." The communiqué called for the two sides to move toward negotiating a cross-strait economic agreement.

Since that time the two sides made progress toward the goal of negotiating an economic pact.  In 2008 President Hu Jintao delivered a speech titled "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan".  In his speech, Hu called for the two sides to sign a "comprehensive economic cooperation agreement".  

In 2009, the two sides of the strait made additional progress toward reaching an agreement.  In particular the leaders of the ARATS and SEF met for the fourth time in Taichung to explore the potential for a negotiated cross-strait economic pact. After holding several rounds of cross-strait talks, they ultimately reached an agreement to sign in 2010 the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA).

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SEF: ECFA

• ECFA Preamble 
• Annex I Product List and Tariff Reduction Arrangements
• Annex II Provisional Rules of Origin Applicable to Products
• Annex III Safeguard Measures Between the Two Parties
• Annex IV Sectors and Liberalization Measures
• Annex V Definitions of Service Suppliers

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Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF)

• MOEA Posts English Translation of ECFA on Internet (2010)
• President Ma holds press conference to discuss signing of ECFA (2010)
• Early Harvest List for Trade in Goods and Tariff Reduction Arrangements (2010)
• ECFA to create new opportunities, pave way for golden decade of Made-in-Taiwan products (2010)
• ECFA "Cross-strait Economic Cooperation Committee" and TIFA "Trade and Investment Committee" both serve as platforms for equal negotiations (2010)
• ​Background on ECFA (2010)
• President Ma attends seminar on cross-strait economic agreement (2010)
• President Ma makes case for ECFA (2010)
• ​New Inflection Point for Taiwan, New Era for Asia - Choosing Correctly at a Critical Juncture (2010)

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Mainland Affairs Council (MAC)

• Explanation Concerning the Signing of the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (2010)

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Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO)

• ECFA boosts cross-Strait trade after 17 months of implementation: mainland (2012)

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ECFA Organization

• Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Agreement (2010) (Available in English and 中文）​​

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Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Committee (CSECC)

Established in January 2011 in accordance with the 11th provision of the ECFA, the CSECC or ECC is a platform created to handle cross-strait ECFA-related negotiations.

• Cross-Strait economic talks open in Taipei (2015)
  
• Cross-Strait economic talks scheduled for Aug. 5 (2014)
  
• Explanation of the CSECC (2011)

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Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA)

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PRC-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), June 29, 2010

English translation of the milestone agreement between Taiwan and China.

June 29, 2010
       
Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement


Preamble

The Straits Exchange Foundation and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, adhering to the principles of equality, reciprocity and progressiveness and with a view to strengthening cross-Straits trade and economic relations.

Have agreed, in line with the basic principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in consideration of the economic conditions of the two Parties, to gradually reduce or eliminate barriers to trade and investment for each other, create a fair trade and investment environment, further advance cross-Straits trade and investment relations by signing the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (hereinafter referred to as this Agreement), and establish a cooperation mechanism beneficial to economic prosperity and development across the Straits.
The two Parties have agreed through consultations to the following:


Chapter 1 General Principles

Article 1 Objectives
The objectives of this Agreement are:

1. To strengthen and advance the economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two Parties;
2. To promote further liberalization of trade in goods and services between the two Parties and gradually establish fair, transparent and facilitative investment and investment protection mechanisms;
3. To expand areas of economic cooperation and establish a cooperation mechanism.

Article 2 Cooperation Measures
The two Parties have agreed, in consideration of their economic conditions, to take measures including but not limited to the following, in order to strengthen cross-Straits economic exchange and cooperation:

1. Gradually reducing or eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in a substantial majority of goods between the two Parties;
2. Gradually reducing or eliminating restrictions on a large number of sectors in trade in services between the two Parties;
3. Providing investment protection and promoting two-way investment;
4. Promoting trade and investment facilitation and industry exchanges and cooperation.

Chapter 2 Trade and Investment

Article 3 Trade in Goods

1. The two Parties have agreed, on the basis of the Early Harvest for Trade in Goods as stipulated in Article 7 of this Agreement, to conduct consultations on an agreement on trade in goods no later than six months after the entry into force of this Agreement, and expeditiously conclude such consultations.
2. The consultations on the agreement on trade in goods shall include, but not be limited to:
   (1) modalities for tariff reduction or elimination;
   (2) rules of origin;
   (3) customs procedures;
   (4) non-tariff measures, including but not limited to technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures;
   (5) trade remedy measures, including measures set forth in the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and the Agreement on Safeguards of the World Trade Organization, and the safeguard measures between the two Parties applicable to the trade in goods between the two Parties.
3. Goods included in the agreement on trade in goods pursuant to this Article shall be divided into three categories: goods subject to immediate tariff elimination, goods subject to phased tariff reduction, and exceptions or others.
4. Either Party may accelerate the implementation of tariff reduction at its discretion on the basis of the commitments to tariff concessions in the agreement on trade in goods.

Article 4 Trade in Services

1. The two Parties have agreed, on the basis of the Early Harvest for Trade in Services as stipulated in Article 8, to conduct consultations on an agreement on trade in services no later than six months after the entry into force of this Agreement, and expeditiously conclude such consultations.
2. The consultations on the agreement on trade in services shall seek to:
   (1) gradually reduce or eliminate restrictions on a large number of sectors in trade in services between the two Parties;
   (2) further increase the breadth and depth of trade in services;
   (3) enhance cooperation in trade in services between the two Parties.
3. Either Party may accelerate the liberalization or elimination of restrictive measures at its discretion on the basis of the commitments to liberalization in the agreement on trade in services.

Article 5 Investment

1. The two Parties have agreed to conduct consultations on the matters referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article within six months after the entry into force of this Agreement, and expeditiously reach an agreement.
2. Such an agreement shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
   (1) establishing an investment protection mechanism;
   (2) increasing transparency on investment-related regulations;
   (3) gradually reducing restrictions on mutual investments between the two Parties;
   (4) promoting investment facilitation.

Chapter 3 Economic Cooperation

Article 6 Economic Cooperation

1. To enhance and expand the benefits of this Agreement, the two Parties have agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas including, but not limited to, the following:
   (1) intellectual property rights protection and cooperation;
   (2) financial cooperation;
   (3) trade promotion and facilitation;
   (4) customs cooperation;
   (5) e-commerce cooperation;
   (6).discussion on the overall arrangements and key areas for industrial cooperation, promotion of cooperation in major projects, and coordination of the resolution of issues that may arise in the course of industrial cooperation between the two Parties;
   (7) promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises cooperation between the two Parties, and enhancement of the competitiveness of these enterprises;
   (8) promotion of the mutual establishment of offices by economic and trade bodies of the two Parties.
2. The two Parties shall expeditiously conduct consultations on the specific programs and contents of the cooperation matters listed in this Article.

Chapter 4 Early Harvest

Article 7 Early Harvest for Trade in Goods

1. To accelerate the realization of the objectives of this Agreement, the two Parties have agreed to implement the Early Harvest Program with respect to the goods listed in Annex I. The Early Harvest Program shall start to be implemented within six months after the entry into force of this Agreement.
2. The Early Harvest Program for trade in goods shall be implemented in accordance with the following rules:
   (1) the two Parties shall implement the tariff reductions in accordance with the product list and tariff reduction arrangements under the Early Harvest stipulated in Annex I, unless their respective non-interim tariff rates generally applied on imports from all other WTO members are lower, in which case such rates shall apply;
   (2) the products listed in Annex I of this Agreement shall be subject to the Provisional Rules of Origin stipulated in Annex II. Each Party shall accord preferential tariff treatment to the above-mentioned products that are determined, pursuant to such Rules, as originating in the other Party upon importation;
   (3) the provisional trade remedy measures applicable to the products listed in Annex I of this Agreement refer to measures provided for in subparagraph (5) of paragraph 2 of Article 3 of this Agreement. The safeguard measures between the two Parties are specified in Annex III of this Agreement.
3. As of the date of the entry into force of the agreement on trade in goods to be reached by the two Parties pursuant to Article 3 of this Agreement, the Provisional Rules of Origin stipulated in Annex II and the provisional trade remedy measures provided for in subparagraph (3) of paragraph 2 of this Article shall cease to apply.

Article 8 Early Harvest for Trade in Services

1. To accelerate the realization of the objectives of this Agreement, the two Parties have agreed to implement the Early Harvest Program on the sectors and liberalization measures listed in Annex IV. The Early Harvest Program shall be implemented expeditiously after the entry into force of this Agreement.
2. The Early Harvest Program for Trade in Services shall be implemented in accordance with the following rules:
   (1) each Party shall, in accordance with the Sectors and Liberalization Measures Under the Early Harvest for Trade in Services in Annex IV, reduce or eliminate the restrictive measures in force affecting the services and service suppliers of the other Party;
   (2) the definition of service suppliers stipulated in Annex V applies to the sectors and liberalization measures with respect to trade in services in Annex IV of this Agreement;
   (3) as of the date of the entry into force of the agreement on trade in services to be reached by the two Parties pursuant to Article 4 of this Agreement, the definitions of service suppliers stipulated in Annex V of this Agreement shall cease to apply;
   (4) in the event that the implementation of the Early Harvest Program for Trade in Services has caused a material adverse impact on the services sectors of one Party, the affected Party may request consultations with the other Party to seek a solution.

Chapter 5 Other Provisions

Article 9 Exceptions
No provision in this Agreement shall be interpreted to prevent either Party from adopting or maintaining exception measures consistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization.

Article 10 Dispute Settlement

1. The two Parties shall engage in consultations on the establishment of appropriate dispute settlement procedures no later than six months after the entry into force of this Agreement, and expeditiously reach an agreement in order to settle any dispute arising from the interpretation, implementation and application of this Agreement.
2. Any dispute over the interpretation, implementation and application of this Agreement prior to the date the dispute settlement agreement mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article enters into force shall be resolved through consultations by the two Parties or in an appropriate manner by the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Committee to be established in accordance with Article 11 of this Agreement.

Article 11 Institutional Arrangements

1. The two Parties shall establish a Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Committee), which consists of representatives designated by the two Parties. The Committee shall be responsible for handling matters relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to:
   (1) concluding consultations necessary for the attainment of the objectives of this Agreement;
   (2) monitoring and evaluating the implementation of this Agreement;
   (3) interpreting the provisions of this Agreement;
   (4) notifying important economic and trade information;
   (5) settling any dispute over the interpretation, implementation and application of this Agreement in accordance with Article 10 of this Agreement.
2. The Committee may set up working group(s) as needed to handle matters in specific areas pertaining to this Agreement, under the supervision of the Committee.
3. The Committee will convene a regular meeting on a semi-annual basis and may call ad hoc meeting(s) when necessary with consent of the two Parties.
4. Matters related to this Agreement shall be communicated through contact persons designated by the competent authorities of the two Parties.

Article 12 Documentation Formats
The two Parties shall use the agreed documentation formats for communication of matters arising from this Agreement.

Article 13 Annexes and Subsequent Agreements
All annexes to this Agreement and subsequent agreements signed in accordance with this Agreement shall be parts of this Agreement.

Article 14 Amendments
Amendments to this Agreement shall be subject to consent through consultations between, and confirmation in writing by, the two Parties.

​Article 15 Entry into Force
After the signing of this Agreement, the two Parties shall complete the relevant procedures respectively and notify each other in writing. This Agreement shall enter into force as of the day following the date that both Parties have received such notification from each other.

Article 16 Termination

1. The Party terminating this Agreement shall notify the other Party in writing. The two Parties shall start consultations within 30 days from the date the termination notice is issued. In case the consultations fail to reach a consensus, this Agreement shall be terminated on the 180th day from the date the termination notice is issued by the notifying Party.
2. Within 30 days from the date of termination of this Agreement, the two Parties shall engage in consultations on issues arising from the termination.

This Agreement is signed in quadruplicate on this 29th day of June [2010] with each Party retaining two copies. The different wording of the corresponding text of this Agreement shall carry the same meaning, and all four copies are equally authentic.
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Annex I: Product List and Tariff Reduction Arrangements Under the Early Harvest for Trade in Goods
Annex II: Provisional Rules of Origin Applicable to Products Under the Early Harvest for Trade in Goods
Annex III: Safeguard Measures Between the Two Parties Applicable to Products Under the Early Harvest for Trade in Goods
Annex IV: Sectors and Liberalization Measures Under the Early Harvest for Trade in Services
Annex V: Definitions of Service Suppliers Applicable to Sectors and Liberalization Measures Under the Early Harvest for Trade in Services




Chairman                                                                 President
Straits Exchange Foundation                                Association for Relations
                                                                                  Across the Taiwan Straits

Cross-Strait Kinmen Accord

Kinmen Accord (Full Text)

​The representatives of the Red Cross organizations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait held working talks on September 11 and 12 and reached the following agreement concerning letting both parties participate in and witness the implementation of cross-strait repatriation procedures via sea routes by their respective government agencies responsible for related matters:

1. Principle of repatriation
The repatriation procedures must conform to humanitarian considerations and the principles of safety and convenience

2. Persons to be repatriated
a. individuals illegally entering the territory of the other side (fishermen taking temporary shelter due to force majeure are not subject to this stipulation)
b. alleged criminal suspects and criminal violators

3. Places of handover
Both sides have agreed that the handover should take place in Mawei and Matsu. Both sides may also agree to alternative places—Xiamen and Kinmen, depending on various factors, such as the hometown(s) of the individuals to be repatriated and the weather conditions at sea.

4. Repatriation procedures:
a. Relevant background information on the stowaway(s) to be repatriated shall be transmitted to the other side, after which the other side shall verify and respond within twenty days upon receipt of the notification. The repatriation and handover shall be carried out on the agreed date and venue. In case of any queries about the identity of the persons to be repatriated, the other side shall be notified to re-investigate the case.
b. Only the vessels of the Red Cross organizations shall be used to carry the persons to be repatriated. Civilian vessels may serve as guide vessels for identification of the agreed venue for the handover. Red Cross banners on a white ground shall be hung on the repatriation vessel and the guide vessel (the hanging of other banners and the use of other symbols and markings are prohibited).
c. Two representatives designated and mutually agreed upon by both sides shall sign a handover witness certificate when taking back the stowaways (form attached).

5. Other matters:
After the signing of this Accord, both parties shall immediately resolve the related technical issues, and the regulations shall be promulgated immediately. Other relevant matters shall be negotiated upon between both parties.

This Agreement is signed in Kinmen; each party shall keep one copy.
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Chen Chang-wen (signed), September 12, 1990
Han Changlin (signed), September 12, 1990

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News

• Taiwan repatriates 7 illegal Chinese immigrants, Focus Taiwan News Channel (May 23, 2017)
• Illegal immigrants pose problem​, Taipei Times (October 27, 2002)
• 4 Taiwan Wanted Criminals Repatriated, People's Daily (June 29, 2001)

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Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

• Taipei, Shanghai ink intercity cooperative accords (August 18, 2015)

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• 31 agreements, MOUs signed at Cross-Strait CEO Summit (December 14-16, 2014)

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• Cross-strait e-Commerce Cooperation & Exchange Conference Reached Investment Cooperation Consensus with 13 MOUs Signed Agreements (September 12, 2013)

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• ​Cross-strait MOUs Promote Cooperation in Electric Vehicle Industry (October 4, 2013)

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• Central Banks of Mainland China and Taiwan Sign Currency Clearance Cooperation (September 6, 2012)

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• Taiwan, Mainland China, Sign MOU for RMB Clearing (August 31, 2012)

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• Taiwan and Mainland China Sign Three MOUs on LED Cooperation (June 2012)

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• ​Taiwan, China take step toward currency settlement MOU (September 2009)

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• Taiwan, China seal financial MOU (November 16, 2009)

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• China; Taiwan: Financial MOUs Signed (November 16, 2009)

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• MOUs on three financial sectors to be inked: FSC (June 2009)