In the backdrop of Chinese trade officials attending a meeting to resolve trade disputes at Taiwan's Economics Ministry, hundreds of Taiwanese came out on the streets to protest against several factories closing down due to Chinese imports into Taiwan.
They demanded imposition of quotas or increasing of duties on Chinese towel imports as almost 80 percent of Taiwanese towels market were lost to China since lifting of ban on Chinese imports, complying with WTO regulations.
Taiwanese towel production has slid to 5 billion New Taiwan dollars ($150 million), which is one-fifth of the earlier production level.
Taiwan's Vice Economics Minister Shih Yen-hsiang has assured that authorities will consider protesters' requests on quotas and duties.
A Finance Ministry official informed that investigations will be conducted and antidumping duties may be imposed on Chinese products by September.
Taiwan and China have strong trade relations.
Taiwan has invested approximately $100 billion in mainland since 1990s.
Chinese trade accounts for almost 40 percent of the Taiwanese total.
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