EXBS: TAIWAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - NOVEMBER 2008

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001693 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/ECC - YWONG, ACHURCH, NJOHANSON, AND ROWEN STATE FOR EAP/TC - MTOYRYLA, DPARKER STATE FOR ISN/MTR - PDURHAM, SBOYER, JMAYES, AND RPALMIERO DHS/CBP/INA FOR MAWATT DOE/NNSA/INECP FOR TPERRY AND SJONES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP TW SUBJECT: EXBS: TAIWAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - NOVEMBER 2008 ¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: None. II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD: ¶1. (SBU) On November 3, the Advisor spoke at an Export Administration Regulations Seminar organized by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy of the Republic of Korea. Over 150 representatives of Korean and foreign subsidiary companies attended the Seminar. The Seminar was followed by one-on-one counseling sessions on November 4. The Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) of the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs is considering organizing a similar program for Taiwan companies so that they can become familiar and comply with U.S. export control rules. ¶2. (SBU) on November 13 and 26, the Advisor met with BOFT to review the progress of Internal Control Program (ICP) software development and the train-the-trainer course materials for the software. The software is slated to be completed by the end of December and the train-the-trainer program to take place during January 2009. ¶3. (SBU) on November 25, the Advisor met with officials of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) of the Executive Yuan to get a status report on Taiwan's plans to liberalize semiconductor equipment exports to China. The MAC official stated that the liberalization plan is still under discussion. He added that, currently, Taiwan authorities at all levels are focused on economic development vis-a-vis China, not on national security or nonproliferation issues. ¶B. BLUE LANTERN: (SBU) No checks were conducted by the Advisor during the reporting period. III. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD: (SBU) No training was conducted during the reporting period. IV. UPCOMING TRAINING: (SBU) On December 10-11, an Industry-Government Outreach Program, implemented by the Department of Energy, will be held in Taichung. Approximately 15 Taiwan officials and 60 company representatives are expected to attend. The goal of the program is to increase industry's awareness of its export control responsibilities. A full day will be devoted to presentations and demonstration of the ICP software, a tool that companies can use to comply with export control laws and regulations. ¶V. DECEMBER MEETINGS: The Advisor will be in Washington for consultations and annual leave beginning December 22. She will return to AIT at the end of January, after the Chinese New Year. VI. RED FLAG ISSUES: None. POC for this report is Mi-Yong Kim, EXBS Advisor. Telephone +886 2 2162 2347. YOUNG