Taiwan-China trade grows

Taiwan-China trade grows

TAIPEI (AFP): Indirect trade between Taiwan and China in the first nine months of 1994 rose 15.7 percent from a year earlier to US$11.68 billion, the Board of Foreign Trade (BOFT) said yesterday.

The BOFT under the economic ministry cited the figure from Hong Kong customs, saying the jump was a result of the government's continuing efforts to liberalize commerce across the Taiwan Strait to boost the island's economic activities.

Indirect exports to the mainland in the January-September period climbed 11.2 percent over a year ago to $10.46 billion while indirect imports surged 76.8 percent to $1.22 billion, the BOFT said.

The January-September indirect trade, mainly conducted through Hong Kong, accounted for 9.1 percent of overall trade in the period, with Taiwan enjoying a $9.24 billion surplus, it added.