From 1989 to 2000, foreign trade generated an average of 78 % of the island's gross national product (GNP). If last year's exports had been better, GNP per capita would not have fallen from US $ 14,000 to only US $ 12,000 and the economy would not have contracted. De therefore believes that Taiwan must foster a recovery in its exports.
民國七十七到八十九年這十二年間，台灣國民生產毛額對進出口的依賴度是百分之七十八，如果去年出口比例高，國民生產毛額不會從一萬四千元降到一萬二千元，經濟成長率也不會是負數，所以我們要把出口拉回來。