Huang Weiji, the Secretary-General of the Taiwan Textile Industry Development Association (Spinning), stated that the initial implementation of the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) early collection list began on New Year's Day. He emphasized that 2011 marked a critical year for Taiwanese textile companies to fully penetrate and expand their presence in the mainland Chinese market. To support local manufacturers in entering the Hong Kong and mainland markets, Spinning will lead 12 top-tier apparel and textile companies from Taiwan to Hong Kong. During an interview with CNTA in Hong Kong, Huang Weike shared the association’s strategy to help manufacturers gain better access to the mainland market. According to the ECFA early collection list, more than 500 items from Taiwan will see tax reductions on the mainland, with 136 of them related to textiles. The tariffs on these products are expected to decrease gradually, from 10% to 17%, over a period of two to ten years, eventually reaching zero by the third year. Huang Weike explained that this tariff reduction would allow Taiwanese textile producers to enjoy similar tariff-free benefits as their mainland counterparts, significantly enhancing their competitiveness in the Chinese market. In 2011, the Spinning Association plans to actively assist its members in expanding into the mainland. This includes organizing visits to major cities like Shanghai and Beijing for participation in national and international textile exhibitions. Additionally, the association will continue to guide Taiwanese manufacturers in visiting well-known garment factories across the mainland, fostering partnerships with regional small-scale producers and promoting collaboration among upstream and downstream textile enterprises. Huang Weiji stressed that 2011 is a pivotal year for the Taiwanese textile industry to accelerate its expansion into the mainland, with noticeable results expected in the second and third quarters of the year. Moreover, he expressed optimism about the future of the mainland textile industry, citing the "12th Five-Year Plan" (2011–2015), which forecasts continued annual growth of around 8% for the sector. In 2010 alone, the mainland’s total textile exports reached $205.9 billion, while domestic consumption exceeded $800 billion, highlighting the vast potential of the market.