Both sides announce “substantial progress” in a comprehensive trade pact. However, Beijing irritates the island by asking its allies not to trade with Taipei.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The governments of China and Taiwan have made “substantial progress” during negotiations for a comprehensive trade pact. Even though, mainland China has been pushing its allies not to trade with Taiwan, generating protests on the island, observer believe the trade agreement could be signed by the end of June.

Experts from both sides met in Beijing for the day for a third round of talks on the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement intended to normalise mainland-Taiwan economic ties and bring the two economies closer.

“The two sides have exchanged views on the content of the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement and the five attachments and have achieved substantial progress," Taiwan’s quasi-official Straits Exchange Foundation said in Taipei.

According to the draft agreement, more than 500 industrial items from Taiwan are expected to be allowed preferential tariffs as part of the deal. The items would cover industries ranging from petrochemical and textiles to machinery and car parts worth US.6 billion. Beijing would demand only 100 Chinese items be placed on the early harvest list, Wang said.

However, last week Beijing caused uproar among business and ordinary people in Taiwan when it announced that it would not allow its allies to sign separate deals with Taiwan after the agreement, an especially dangerous precedent for its export-reliant US0 billion economy. For the mainland, Taiwan remains a rebel province that has to be brought back into the mainland’s fold.

China has always followed this approach of trying to control its allies’ diplomacy towards the island.

For Taiwanese democrats, the mainland’s invasion will start with an economic bridge over the strait.

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