U.S. and Taiwan (2009)

Department of Commerce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 15, 2009

CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
202-482-4883

The U.S. Department of Commerce Applauds Taiwan's Accession to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Department of Commerce applauds Taiwan on its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). On July 15, Taiwan joined the GPA, becoming the 41st covered economy, allowing U.S. firms to have increased access to Taiwan's extensive government procurement market, valued at $21 billion in 2007.

"American firms in a broad range of industries, from information technology to transportation, stand to gain business in Taiwan as a result of this accession," said Michelle O'Neill, Acting Under Secretary for International Trade. "These opportunities demonstrate the importance of trade agreements in creating economic prosperity and jobs for Americans."

The U.S. Department of Commerce will educate U.S. exporters about Taiwan's accession to the WTO GPA through webinars highlighting export opportunities created by the accession and a series of presentations in multiple U.S. cities where exports to Taiwan are a key feature of the local economy.

As a party to the WTO GPA, Taiwan must conduct its procurements in a fair, transparent, and predictable manner, and not discriminate between domestic and foreign suppliers for procurements covered by the agreement. Taiwan and the other members of the WTO GPA agreed on the terms of Taiwan's accession in December 2008.

For additional information on Taiwan business opportunities and the GPA, please visit www.buyusa.gov/Taiwan/en.