Japan, Taiwan Ink Pacts for Biz Promotion

Taipei, Nov. 5 (Jiji Press)--Representatives of Japan and Taiwan on Tuesday signed five pacts mainly to promote business exchanges such as e-commerce. The pacts were concluded between the Interchange Association, Japan's window for exchanges with Taiwan, and its Taiwanese counterpart, the Association of East Asian Relations. The deal on e-commerce stipulates customs duty exemptions for online transactions of digital content including games and movies between Japan and Taiwan and calls for consumer protection. This is "Japan's first agreement on comprehensive rules on e-commerce" with any country or region, said an official of the Interchange Association. The two sides also concluded pacts on cooperation in rescue of missing aircraft, railway services, pharmaceutical regulations and patent filings. In the railway business, Japan and Taiwan will consider jointly selling Shinkansen bullet train systems in other economies. Japan and Taiwan concluded an investment pact in September 2011 which guarantees equal treatment between companies of either economy that operate in the other and local companies. The latest pacts have brought the number of economic agreements between Japan and Taiwan to 27, according to the Interchange Association. END