
Taiwan acceded to the World Trade Organization (WTO)
on 1 January 2002. Due to the fact that WTO affairs cover a variety of issues,
the Taiwanese government immediately gathered relevant authorities to establish
a Taiwan WTO&RTA center
which is responsible for research, advocacy, training, and database collection.
Under the guidance of President Vincent Shaw of the Chung-Hua Institution for
Economic Research (CIER), the Taiwan
WTO&RTA Center officially established on September 8th, 2003, which
undertakes six main missions: first, as a customer-driven institution to
conduct strategic and significant cross-field research in order to support
government policies related to WTO; second, to promote the information of WTO
and Regional Trade Agreement (RTA) issues and provide related professional
courses for the government and social sector in order to enhance their
understanding of WTO and RTA issues and build policy consensus; third, to
establish WTO database and website in order to enhance information flow and
provide learning support; fourth, to train talented individuals in the fields
of trade and economics, in order to strengthen the nation’s participation in
international affairs; fifth, to promote international exchange activities in
order to increase Taiwan’s role in WTO, and last, to support Taiwan’s participation
of WTO and RTA issues and conducts related activities. Through the
accomplishment of forth mentioned missions, the Taiwan WTO&RTA Center endeavors to fulfill the goals of
strengthening the basis of government policy making, augmenting negotiation
services, integrating domestic public opinion, and developing internet networks
both domestically and internationally.