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Title: Enforcement Rules of the Foreign Trade Act Ch
Date: 2021.09.10
Legislative: 1. Promulgated on November 8, 1993
2. Amendment to Article 21 promulgated on October 7, 1994
3. Amendment to Articles 2 and 13 promulgated on February 10, 1999
4. Amendment to Articles 7, 8, 20, and 21, and addition of Article 12-1, and deletion of Article 18 promulgated on August 30, 2000
5. Amendment to Articles 5, 12-1, 14, 20 and 21, and addition of Article 8-1, and deletion of Articles 9, 11, 16 and 19 promulgated on February 19, 2003
6. Amendment to Articles 14 and 22 promulgated on October 6, 2004
7. Amendment to Article 22 promulgated on March 18, 2005
8. Amendment to Articles 5, 8, 10, 12-1, 15 and 21, and addition of Article 21-1 promulgated on July 16, 2019
9. Amendment to Articles 2, 5, 7, 10, 13 and 22 promulgated on September 10, 2021
Content: Article 1
These Rules are enacted pursuant to Article 36 of the Foreign Trade Act (hereinafter referred to as 
the Act).

Article 2
The terms "foreign country" and "other country", as used in the Act, include any separate customs 
territory designated under the World Trade Organization.

Article 3
A measure to temporarily suspend export/import or other necessary measures to be taken by the 
competent authority under Article 6 of the Act shall be reported to the Executive Yuan at the time of 
publication and submitted to the Legislative Yuan for ratification within one month from the date of 
publication.

Article 4
The necessary measures to be taken by the competent authority under Article 6 of the Act against 
any specific country or territory or any specific goods include restrictions on quantities, prices, 
qualities, specifications, payment methods, and ways of exportation or importation of goods. They 
may also include a request for the Ministry of Finance to exercise its power to impose special tariffs 
in accordance with applicable laws.

Article 5
The terms “international treaty” or “agreement” mentioned in subparagraph 5, paragraph 1 of 
Article 6, the proviso in paragraph 1 of Article 11, paragraph 1 of Article 13, paragraphs 1 and 2 of 
Article 16, the proviso in paragraph 2 of Article 20-2, and paragraph 1 of Article 20-3 of the Act 
refer to:
1. Any treaties or agreements signed by Taiwan with any foreign country; and
2. Any conventions or agreements signed and approved by any multilateral organizations in which 
Taiwan is a participant, or not a participant therein, yet are mutually recognized and abided by 
countries in general.

Article 6
To expand foreign trade relations, the competent authority shall hold or participate in bilateral or 
multilateral economic and trade cooperation conferences and sign arrangements or agreements with 
specific countries or territories that help to enhance bilateral economic and trade relations based on 
economic and trade developments or needs.

Article 7
Prohibitions and controls against specific countries or territories under Article 5, temporary 
suspensions of export/import of goods or other necessary measures under Article 6, restrictions 
stipulated in the proviso in paragraph 1 of Article 11, the administration of export/import of strategic 
high-tech goods stipulated in Article 13, the administration of endangered flora and fauna stipulated 
in Article 13-1, quotas with or without charges or other response measures adopted under Article 16, 
and import relief measures adopted under Article 18 of the Act shall all be announced by public 
notices and implemented from the date of publication or any other designated date.

Article 8
If any one of the following circumstances applies to exporters or importers prior to the date of 
publication or the designated date as stated in Article 7, they may still export or import goods, 
unless it is otherwise stipulated in other regulations:
1. The exporter or importer has already obtained an export or import permit which is still valid; or
2. The L/C applied for by the importer has been issued, the payment for goods has already been 
remitted, or goods have already been shipped out from a foreign country, which can be corroborated 
by supporting documents; or
3. The exporter has received an L/C issued by a bank in a foreign country or already collected 
payment for goods, which can be corroborated by supporting documents. 
The supporting documents referred to in subparagraphs 2 and 3 of the preceding paragraph shall 
contain the names and quantities of the goods.

Artivle 8-1
To manage trade and collect statistics under the Act, the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) of the 
MOEA may use the Customs Import Tariff Code as the classification framework to compile its 
Export and Import Commodity Classification Schedule.

Article 9
(deleted)

Article 10
Regarding export/import of goods, if quotas with or without charges are required under paragraph 1 
of Article 16 of the Act, the BOFT may adopt any of the following actions:
1. Issue and allocate quotas unilaterally or jointly with relevant authorities.
2. Commission financial institutions, trade associations, or juristic persons with the administration 
of quotas.
3. Designate a government operated trading organization to import such goods through tendering 
procedures.
4. Handle the matter as designated or approved by the competent authority.

Article 11
(deleted)

Article 12
Income received from charged quotas shall be turned over to the Treasury unless otherwise 
approved by the Executive Yuan.
Operational expenditures required by organizations commissioned with quota administration shall 
be compensated by the BOFT through its budgetary procedures, except those which were not turned 
over to the Treasury. 

Article 12-1
The term “illegal transfer of exports/imports,” as mentioned in subparagraph 2, paragraph 4 of 
Article 16 of the Act, refers to exported products subject to quota restrictions that are not of Taiwan 
origin, but exported to countries or areas where import restraints are enforced under quotas set by 
Taiwan. 
The term “circumventing inspection,” as mentioned in subparagraph 3, paragraph 4 of Article 16, 
means that the exporter/importer, as required by the measures stipulated in paragraph 6 of Article 16 
of the Act, failed to maintain relevant production materials and documentation or refused either to 
submit the said materials and documentation or declined to cooperate with the inspection.
The term “overseas processing,” as mentioned in subparagraph 6, paragraph 4 of Article 16 of the 
Act, means that raw materials or semi-finished products that are processed abroad into finished 
products are subject to quota restrictions, after which these processed products are re-imported into 
Taiwan for re-export under the quotas set by Taiwan, or the products are exported directly from the 
overseas processing locations under the quotas set by Taiwan.

Article 13
The term "other countries," as mentioned in subparagraph 1 of Article 17 and subparagraph 1, 
paragraph 1 of Article 30 of the Act, refers to any country or territory which has a multilateral or 
bilateral protection treaty or agreement on intellectual property rights with Taiwan.

Article 14
In an investigation on injuries conducted by the competent authority under Article 19 of the Act, 
determination of substantial injury, threat of substantial injury, or substantial obstacles to the 
establishment of the domestic industry concerned shall be based on the same criteria that the 
Ministry of Finance uses to determine countervailing or anti-dumping duties under Articles 67 and 
68 of the Customs Law, and given the same recognition as to whether there is substantial injury, 
threat of substantial injury, or substantial obstacles to the establishment of the domestic industry 
concerned under Article 69 of the same Law.

Article 15
To promote foreign trade, the competent authority may handle it unilaterally or commission the 
Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), other relevant organizations, juristic 
persons, or trade associations with the following matters:
1. Develop promotional plans for economic and trade matters with specific countries or territories.
2. Investigate and remove foreign trade barriers against Taiwan.
3. Assist in responding to foreign trade allegations against Taiwan.
4. Promote a guidance system for corporate marketing.
5. Promote an identification system for quality products.
6. Establish overseas footholds for trade affairs in specific countries or territories.
7. Train personnel on trade negotiations and trade promotions.
8. Hold and participate in international exhibitions.
9. Commend local manufacturers on their import/export of national products and foreign purchasers 
of excellent local products.
10. Assist local exporters/importers and overseas Taiwanese firms with trade promotion.
11. Increase other activities that help promote foreign trade.

Article 16
(deleted)

Article 17
In accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 21 of the Act, exporters/importers shall pay trade 
promotion service fees within fourteen days of the date that customs issued the certificate of 
payment. 
Regarding collection of the aforementioned trade promotion service fees, customs shall include the 
fees with the certificate of payment and import duties for imported goods to be collected 
simultaneously; for exported goods, the fees shall be collected after customs clearance and 
shipment.

Article 18
(deleted)

Article 19
(deleted)

Article 20
The term “frozen,” mentioned in paragraph 3 of Article 29 of the Act, refers to the suspension of 
quota transfers, change of categories, applications for temporary quotas, and utilization of quotas for 
export licenses.

Article 21
In accordance with subparagraph 1 or 2, paragraph 1 of Article 30 of the Act, the BOFT may 
commission customs to handle the suspension or reinstatement of the right of an exporter/importer 
to export/import goods.

Article 21-1
Regarding exporters/importers who are suspended from exporting/importing goods pursuant to the 
provisions under Article 27-1, paragraph 1 of Article 27-2 or Articles 28 to 30 of the Act, if any one 
of the following circumstances applies to them before punishment, and the circumstances are 
confirmed by the BOFT, the exportation/importation of such goods shall be completed within one 
month after such punishment, unless it is otherwise stipulated in other regulations: 
1. The exporter or importer has already obtained an export or import permit which is still valid; or
2. The L/C applied for by the importer has already been issued, payment for the goods has already 
been remitted, or goods have already been shipped out from a foreign country, which can be 
corroborated by supporting documents; or
3. The exporter has received an L/C issued by a bank in a foreign country or already collected 
payment for goods, as can be corroborated by supporting documents.
The supporting documents referred to in subparagraphs 2 and 3 of the preceding paragraph, shall 
contain the names or quantities of the goods.

Article 22
Trade affairs involving Technology Industrial Parks, Science Parks, Free Trade Zones or 
Agricultural Technology Parks that are handled by the BOFT of the MOEA may be commissioned 
to the administrative offices of such Zones or Parks or other administrative authorities.

Article 23
These Rules shall enter into force on the date of promulgation.