臺灣博碩士論文加值系統

Abstract
Business opportunities generated through free trade agreements with Central America
By
Silvia Villalobos
This thesis looks to introduce Central America as a strategic ally for Taiwan at a business level, and a suitable and profitable place for investment. These positive characteristics have been enhanced by the free trade agreements signed or currently being negotiated, and as such, we will endeavor to introduce these FTAs affecting investments in the Central American region, such as CAFTA and FTAA, and will try to dwell on the opportunities derived thereof for Taiwanese business to expand their scope in this market. We will talk about the Central American countries, their relationship with Taiwan, and China’s increasing role in the region. Special mention will be given previous Asian investments in the isthmus, their focus, objectives, and analyze the results of their initiatives as support for our theory that links between Asia and Central America are growing and that this is a good place for investment. Finally, we will attempt to predict what areas would be most profitable for Taiwanese investors and business people. In terms of the research method and data sources, primary sources were news and magazine articles from prestigious publications, as well as books on general international trade, as this issue is rather fresh and, as a matter of fact, most of the treaties are barely into effect or still being negotiated.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.Introduction…………………………………………………… 1

2.Theoretical background..…………………………………… 4

2.1Key terminology related to FTAs ……………………… 4

2.1.1How free is free?............................... 4

2.1.2 Theories relevant to international trade agreements..6

2.2 Economic rationale for free trade………………………7

2.3 Political rationale for free trade…………………… 8

3.CAFTA and the current state of affairs………………… 12

3.1 FTAs currently in place………………………………… 12

3.1.1. WTO……………………………………………………… 12

3.1.2. NAFTA…………………………………………………… 15

3.1.2.1 FTAA…………………………………………………… 17

3.1.3. CAFTA…………………………………………………… 21

3.2. The China factor……………………………………… 28

3.3. Asian investors experience in Central America… 36

4. Taiwan and FTAs…………………………………………… 48

4.1 FTAs with allied nations……………………………… 52
4.1.1 FTAs currently in place between Taiwan and allied nations

4.1.1.1 Panama……………………………………………… 52

4.1.1.2 Guatemala………………………………………… 55

4.1.2 Prospective FTAs between Taiwan and allied nations..57

4.1.2.1 Nicaragua…………………………………………… 57

4.1.2.2. El Salvador………………………………………… 58

4.1.2.3 Costa Rica………………………………………… 59

4.1.2.4 Honduras…………………………………………… 61

4.2 Business opportunities (by sector) ……………… 62

4.3 Jung Pang project……………………………………… 72

5. Conclusion……………………………………………… 75

References………………………………………………… VII

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