El Salvador trade deal to be suspended‘LIMITED IMPACT’: Premier Chen Chien-jen instructed ministries to help Taiwanese businesses explore other markets and procure goods from other FTA countriesStaff writer, with CNATaiwan would suspend implementation of a free-trade agreement (FTA) with El Salvador from Monday following a decision by the former diplomatic ally to repeal it, the Executive Yuan said on Thursday. The 2018 announcement was challenged in El Salvador, but its government received a favorable final ruling on Nov. 7, 2022, and subsequently announced the end of favorable tariffs on Taiwanese goods. Exports from Taiwan to El Salvador last year totaled US$81.58 million, or 0.02 percent of Taiwan’s overall exports, while imports from the Central American country totaled US$18.83 million, or 0.004 percent. Minister of Finance Chuang Tsui-yun (莊翠雲) told lawmakers on March 29 that the trade agreement is not linked to diplomatic ties. Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) told lawmakers the following day that the fate of the trade agreement would be discussed with Taiwan’s foreign ministry.

Source: Taipei Times May 13, 2023 11:32 UTC