Cross-Straits trade down 8.2 pct in H1

The Chinese mainland and Taiwan did 92.82 billion U.S. dollars' worth of trade in the first half of this year, down 8.2 percent from the same period in 2013, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday.

The mainland's exports to Taiwan dropped 0.2 percent year on year to 20.97 billion U.S. dollars during the period. Imports from Taiwan totaled 71.85 billion U.S. dollars, down 10.2 percent year on year, according to the ministry.

Cross-Strait trade in June decreased 4.6 percent from the previous month to reach 16.53 billion U.S. dollars, the data showed.

In the first half year, the mainland approved 1,050 projects involving investment from Taiwan, up 6.8 percent year on year. Investment from Taiwan totaled 1.32 billion U.S. dollars, up 4.8 percent year on year.

Taiwan is the mainland's seventh-biggest trade partner and sixth-biggest import source, according to the ministry.