Taiwan's Trade Surplus to Mainland Approached US$20 BillionStatistics provided by Taiwan authorities indicate that Taiwan-mainland trade hit a new record in 2000. The gross value of the cross-Straits trade for the first time exceeded US$30 billion, among which, Taiwan harvested a huge indirect trade surplus of approximately US$20 billion from the mainland.As Taiwan "Central News Agency" reported the value of Taiwan's exports to the mainland, according to Taiwan 'Board of Foreign Trade' reached US$26.162 billion last year, up 23.3 percent, accounting for 17.6 percent of its gross exports value. Its import from the mainland ran only to US$6.223 billion, an increase of 37.5 percent, accounting for 4.4 percent of its gross import value. Taiwan's export, import and surplus with the mainland all hit a new record in 2000. Cross-Straits trade favors Taiwan by US$19.939 billion in surplus. Taiwan got more benefits from the cross-straits exchange and cooperation. The commodities exported from Taiwan to the mainland last year were mostly electronic machinery and accessories, mechanical appliances and spare parts, plastics and products, iron and steel, artificial fibers, industrial textiles, photographic instruments and hardware, copper and products, artificial rayon, peltry and leather, etc., added Taiwan 'Board of Foreign Trade'. The export value of the above totaled US$20.235 billion. In the meanwhile, the imported commodities from the mainland to Taiwan were electronic machinery and accessories, mechanical appliances and spare parts, iron and steel, mineral fuel, petrolatum and refined products, zinc and products, toys, sporting necessities and spare parts, organic chemicals, vehicles and hardware but railway and tram cars, bedding, lamps and fittings, stone material, lime and cement, etc. The import value stood only for US$4.485 billion. By PD Online Staff Du Minghua |
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