Central Bank of the Republic of China outlines further foreign exchange easing and wider securities firm participation

In remarks at the Financial Street Forum, the Central Bank of the Republic of China outlined plans for further foreign exchange measures covering trade settlements, cross-border investment and financing, and market access. A planned current account package would accommodate exporters’ and importers’ varied settlement needs and support new trade models. A separate capital account package would facilitate companies’ cross-border financing, investment and allocation of funds. The plans also include expanding the pilot allowing securities firms to conduct foreign exchange settlement and sales, and supporting financial institutions’ exchange rate risk management services, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. These priorities continue the emphasis on trade and investment facilitation set out at the 2025 forum, but the remarks provide no implementation dates or detailed eligibility requirements for the additional measures. The plans build on differentiated foreign exchange oversight, which simplifies checks for compliant businesses while strengthening monitoring of higher-risk transactions. By the end of June 2026, more than 50,000 businesses with strong credit standing could conduct foreign exchange transactions without documentary review, about 30% more than at the end of 2025. Their transactions exceeded USD 580 billion in the first half, double the year-earlier amount, while average processing times fell by more than 50%. Existing policy packages had cumulatively benefited more than 150,000 businesses and covered over USD 3 trillion in transactions by the end of September. Alongside further opening, the remarks emphasized continued monitoring of cross-border capital flows, macroprudential management and enforcement against illegal cross-border financial activities.