President of the Republic of China, Tsai Ing-wen, recently wrote an article for American media titled “A Roadmap to Deepen Taiwan-US Economic and Trade Relations,” to elucidate Taiwan’s strategic thinking on Taiwan-US trade and efforts to eliminate trade barriers, increase Taiwan-US investment, and reduce tariffs through dialogue for global readers.
Tsai Ing-wen wrote in Bloomberg that the Taiwan-US partnership is built on a firm belief in freedom and democracy, with both sides standing together over the years in the face of communist expansion. Moreover, Taiwan and the United States are close economic and trade partners, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) recently announcing high investments in the US, and Taiwan striving to enhance bilateral cooperation in manufacturing and innovation fields.
“Taiwan is a trading nation, aiming to establish fair and mutually beneficial trade relations with countries in the long run. Therefore, our country will continue to encourage Taiwan companies to expand their global presence, including in the US, and will work to deepen commercial cooperation between Taiwan and the US,” said Tsai Ing-wen.
Tsai Ing-wen mentioned responding to the US President Trump’s policy of reciprocal tariffs with the spirit of lowering all tariffs between Taiwan and the US as a common goal, seeking to restart trade negotiations; expanding procurement from the US in energy, agriculture, industry, and arms sales; increasing investment between both parties; eliminating non-tariff trade barriers; and responding earnestly to US concerns regarding export control of high-tech products and issues of illegal transshipment of low-priced goods.
He emphasized that these actions shape the foundational roadmap for Taiwan to move forward amidst the changing economic and trade landscape, transforming the challenges of Taiwan-US economic relations into new opportunities for economic momentum, resilience, and strategic adjustments. With increasing global uncertainties due to the aggressive expansion of the Chinese Communist Party, closer trade relations not only contribute to a healthy economy but also serve as a crucial pillar for regional security.
Tsai Ing-wen stated that the above strategy is based on the enduring friendship between Taiwan and the US, a solid belief in fair and reciprocal trade benefits, and a firm commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He expressed confidence that the shared economic and security interests between Taiwan and the US can not only overcome the fluctuations in the international economic and trade environment but also define the future of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.