It is commonly argued that many of the reasons given for holding up on the little three links are moot, since entry into the World Trade Organization should make the big three links inevitable. But here too the MAC is reserved. John Deng suggests that even after Taiwan enters the WTO, it would be possible to get around the requirement for direct trade between WTO members by asking for an exemption for this particular case.
至於在討論小三通與三通時最常被提及的 WTO 入會勢必影響三通一事，陸委會依然較為謹慎，鄧振中暗示，即使加入 WTO，也可能以「排除條款」或「間接通商」的方式解決 WTO 對會員國間直接通商的要求。