Taiwan would strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation with the US in response to tariffs, President William Lai (賴清德) said today during a meeting with the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce North America (TCCNA) at the Presidential Office.
He praised the organization as playing a vital role in bridging the gap between Taiwanese businesses and markets across the Pacific.
The TCCNA has sent a delegation to Taiwan every year since its establishment in 1988, making this its 37th delegation.
Photo: CNA
The organization’s work not only strengthens US-Taiwan economic relations, but acts as a bridge to deepen interpersonal relationships and promote exchange, Lai said.
The organization also sent a group to Washington recently to lobby top US members of congress on five major policies related to Taiwanese trade, economics and national defense, he said.
Their efforts were largely supported by members of the US Congress, for which Lai thanked the organization on behalf of the nation.
US President Donald Trump’s new tariff and trade policies, announced earlier this month, would have a great impact on global supply chains, though Taiwan would use the opportunity to strengthen bilateral trade relations and economic cooperation, Lai said.
As the world faces the growing threat of authoritarianism, the values of democracy, freedom and human rights shared by Taiwan, the US and Canada are more important than ever, he said.
In the face of a rapidly shifting global landscape, Taiwan needs even more support from the TCCNA to speak up for Taiwanese interests, he said.
In light of Trump’s recent announcement of plans to impose a 32-percent tariffs on Taiwanese goods, the government has already established a task force to enter into negotiations with the US, Lai said.
It also plans to provide a support package of 20 measures across nine focus areas to protect the interests of Taiwanese industries and prop up the domestic businesses that would be most affected by the policies, he said.
He hopes that Taiwanese overseas businesses can provide advice and assistance in leveraging new global supply chains and strengthening Taiwan-US cooperation, he said.
Lai thanked overseas Taiwanese businesses for their role in promoting Taiwan to the world.
Lai and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) have spent the past two weeks meeting with various businesses around Taiwan to hear the opinions of industry leaders and ensure that government policies can offer support where it is most needed, he added.
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