President Lai Ching-te said that Taiwan continues to work toward increasing investment in the U.S. and eliminating trade barriers.
The president’s statements were published in New York-based publication Bloomberg News April 10 under the title “Taiwan Has a Roadmap for Deeper U.S. Trade Ties.” In the opinion piece, Lai clarified the country’s Taiwan-U.S. trade relations strategy.
Lai first described the foundation of the bilateral partnership as the shared beliefs in democracy and freedom, as well as joint efforts to counter communist expansion. He noted that the U.S. and Taiwan are close economic partners and offered Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s recent announcement of a US$165 billion investment in the U.S. as an example of the deepening commercial ties.
Taiwan relies on trade, Lai said, and its long-term goal is to advance mutually beneficial relationships, adding that Taiwan would continue to encourage domestic enterprises to expand their business in the U.S. and elsewhere.
In response to President Donald Trump’s policy on reciprocal tariffs, Lai said that Taiwan will seek to resume trade negotiations to lower mutual tariffs, procure more goods from the U.S. including agricultural products and weapons, and remove non-tariff trade barriers.
Lai emphasized that Taiwan’s intention is to transform challenges into a positive economic force that will nurture resilience in both parties. A tighter trade bond will forge a more robust economic climate while serving as a major pillar of regional security, especially as China asserts its expansionist policies.
The president indicated that the aforementioned strategy is based on a long-standing bond; a firm belief in fair, mutually beneficial trade; and a persistent commitment to upholding cross-strait peace. (POC-E)
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