TAIWAN

Mainland Trade Via Hong Kong Grows: Taiwan’s trade with mainland China through Hong Kong rose 27.1% in January from a year earlier, to $466 million, the Board of Foreign Trade said. Direct trade between Taiwan and mainland China is banned by Taipei. Hong Kong is the main conduit for trade between the two fast-growing economies. Strong demand for Taiwan textiles and machinery fueled the export gain, the board said. Taiwan’s imports of mainland goods through Hong Kong rose 3.2% in January on the year to $73 million on increased purchases of mainland raw materials and semi-processed goods, the government said.