"This is the bottom line we will stick to, " Shih told the legislature. "We will not yield on these two issues even if that means a collapse of the trade talks." In response to lawmakers' questions, the minister said the present prohibition on imports of 830 types of Chinese produce and processed agriculture products won't be lifted under the pact.

The ban on Chinese laborers will also be maintained as the government had promised before, the minister added.

"We are also trying to shut some 1000 Chinese industrial products out of Taiwan," Shih noted.

Taiwan will soon begin formal negotiations with China on an economic cooperation framework agreement with China in hopes of gaining a foothold there before a trade agreement between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations takes effect next year.

Informal talks with China on the pact have been underway for a while, and hopefully the two sides can exchange views on the pact in their fourth round of formal negotiations later this year, Shih said.

Although Taiwan hopes to seal the pact as soon as possible, Shih said an agreement would most likely be reached next year.

(By Maubo Chang)