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2019-11-19
President Tsai attends 2019 AmCham Taipei Annual General Meeting

President Tsai Ing-wen attended the 2019 American Chamber of Commerce Taipei (AmCham) Annual General Meeting at noon on November 19. She stated that the government will work towards a new and improved version of the Taiwanese economic development model, transforming Taiwan into Asia's high-end manufacturing and R&D center, a regional financial and wealth management center, and a base for high-quality talent. The president also expressed hope that AmCham will continue to support the signing of a bilateral trade agreement between Taiwan and the US, so that we can work together to spur growth, foster innovation, and bring greater economic prosperity to more people.

A transcript of President Tsai's remarks follows:

Thank you. It is always great to be back at the American Chamber of Commerce.

I trust that my good friend Director Christensen [American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director William Brent Christensen] will agree with me that since AmCham Taipei's establishment 68 years ago, every single one of the Chamber's members has played a significant role in Taiwan's economic development.

For instance, when I received an AmCham delegation led by former Chairperson Leo Seewald in September, Prudential CEO Dylan Tyson told me that his company has been operating in Taiwan for over 30 years. I trust there are many companies like Prudential that have stood by Taiwan for decades.

I also want to take a moment to congratulate AmCham members on taking home seven out of ten of the first-ever "Economic Contribution Awards for Foreign Companies in Taiwan" at this year's Taiwan Business Alliance Conference. These companies recognize Taiwan's potential and importance, and they have confidence in the future of this market.

And like I said during this year's Hsieh Nian Fan: This year is a good year. It is an optimistic year. And it is an engaging year.

Despite many challenges, this year has proven to be a good year, and an optimistic year as well.

Without a doubt, the changing world economic order, especially the US-China trade war, has had a major impact on the global economy. Countries around the world are struggling to adjust.

And although AmCham's 2019 Business Climate Survey reflects these challenges and uncertainties, major US companies also highlighted Taiwan's innovation, talented workforce, and potential for market expansion.

These advantages are no coincidence. They are the result of Taiwan's freeness and openness, which has allowed good talent to thrive, as well as our respect and protection for intellectual property rights.

Even more encouraging is the fact that we are beginning to see results from our hard work over the past three years.

For three years, we have worked to develop a new economic development model for Taiwan. We have reduced our overdependency on production bases in China.

We have strengthened our partnerships with the US and other major economies. We have begun to change our overall economic structure and encouraged industrial innovation.

This transformation has made Taiwan's economy both resilient and responsive. More than that, it has given us the ability to overcome the many challenges facing us in the global economy.

The entire world is watching Taiwan's economic transformation. For the first three quarters of this year, our economic growth topped the Four Asian Dragons. And our future outlook is even more optimistic.

We are seeing more Taiwanese firms returning to invest in Taiwan than ever before. Our government has already approved nearly NT$700 billion in investment applications, with the potential to bring more than 55,000 high-quality jobs back to Taiwan.

Taiwanese firms and individuals are expected to bring billions of US dollars in overseas capital back to Taiwan with them. We estimate this trend will continue and accelerate.

Foreign companies are bullish on Taiwan as well. In the coming years, we expect to see billions in new investments from international companies. And major US firms like Google, Microsoft, Micron, and Amazon Web Services will bring thousands of high-paying jobs.

We are also seeing positive developments in Taiwan's economic makeup. From January to October of this year, Taiwan's exports to the US increased by 17.7%, while our exports to China decreased by 6.65%. This change reflects the swift changes and adjustments in the supply chain of US-China-Taiwan trade.

These changes are pushing Taiwan into a new era of economic development. Here, to all Taiwanese companies, and foreign companies that are investing or would like to invest in Taiwan: as we enter this new era, I want to assure you that we will work even harder to take Taiwan's economy to new heights.

We will work towards a new and improved version of the Taiwanese economic development model. This model will build on the strong foundation we have built over the past three years.

It will be adaptive to changes in the global supply chain and capital flow. It will incorporate the recent wave of investments by Taiwanese and international firms, as well as the massive amounts of capital currently flowing back to Taiwan.

This model will transform Taiwan into Asia's high-end manufacturing and R&D center, a regional financial and wealth management center, and a base for high-quality talent.

This combination of industrial, capital, and talent advantages will provide Taiwan with a new path forward for the next 20 years of economic prosperity.

In building on our current momentum, this year has also been an engaging year.

Taiwan and the US have long been partners in both global trade and regional security. We share the same values and responsibilities, as well as the same interests.

AmCham has always played a key role in advancing Taiwan-US trade relations, and in bringing new investments to Taiwan. The Chamber also helps to remove many obstacles for US companies investing and operating in Taiwan. We listen closely to the suggestions of AmCham members, and respond to your concerns, too.

For instance, this past August, we implemented a Patent Linkage System that exemplifies our commitment to IP protection, as well as our support for research and innovation.

In fact, we have been working to improve Taiwan's regulatory environment across the board. We have amended outdated regulations to allow greater flexibility in business management and efficient use of workforce.

We have adjusted a number of regulations to make it easier for foreign talent to live and work in Taiwan. And we have relaxed regulations on work hours for foreign professionals in supervisory and technical positions to better reflect the demands of a knowledge-based economy. We are also continuing to search for new ways to increase our engagement with the US and spur further economic cooperation.

This month, we officially launched the Talent Circulation Alliance (TCA) in collaboration with the American Institute in Taiwan. This initiative was announced by Director Christensen himself back in April, and I want to take a moment to thank him for working with us to make this project a reality.

The TCA will help young tech talent move more freely between Taiwan and the US, and spark innovative collaboration across many fields.

I know that AmCham also recently launched the NextGen Business Leaders Program, so that we can begin training the leaders of tomorrow today. Clearly, we share the same goals when it comes to talent development.

I want to reiterate that Taiwan and the US share strategic goals for economic development, and we must work together to achieve them. A central aim of the Trump administration is to revitalize the concept of "Made in the USA."

Taiwan is also searching for a new position in the global supply chain, and working to create new modes of production and manufacturing.

Taiwan and the US share strong ties in the ICT, semiconductor, automotive, and aerospace industries. I hope that in the future, we can extend this strategic cooperation to cutting-edge manufacturing, particularly in the digital economy, AI, IoT, and Industry 4.0.

And to strengthen our cooperation in these areas, we need an arrangement that guarantees the supports from the governments; one that will allow companies to invest with confidence.

Without a doubt, signing a bilateral investment agreement should be number one priority of ours.

I know that when former Chairperson Seewald led the 2019 CEO Mission to Washington, D.C., he expressed strong support for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between our countries.

A high-quality BTA between our countries would not only help strengthen our engagement, it would also set a strong precedent for a rules-based trade order in the Indo-Pacific region. So I hope you will continue to support this effort.

Truly, the relationship between Taiwan and AmCham Taipei is one of mutual support. We are both working to achieve the same goals: that is to spur growth, foster innovation, and bring greater economic prosperity to more people.

I want to thank all of you once again for making this year so good, so optimistic, and so engaged, even in the face of the challenges before us. Working together, I'm confident that we can make next year an even better one. Thank you.

Also present at the event were AmCham Taipei Chairman Chyi-Woei Chin, President William Foreman, AIT Taipei Office Director William Brent Christensen, National Security Council Secretary-General David T. Lee (李大維) and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮).

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Through scholarship programs, healthcare and vocational training workshops, and the launch of the Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative – Diplomatic Allies Inbound Track Program this year, Taiwan will continue to invite even more young Tuvaluans to learn and conduct exchanges in Taiwan. In July, here at the Presidential Office, I met with some outstanding young people from Tuvalu participating in exchanges. I believe that through cooperative projects and visits between our two countries, the diplomatic alliance between Taiwan and Tuvalu will further deepen, underscoring our common belief in the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Tuvalu for long speaking up for Taiwan and supporting our international participation at global venues, including the United Nations General Assembly and the World Health Assembly. We will always remember these acts of friendship. 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President Lai meets study delegation from Japan’s LDP Youth Division
On the afternoon of August 18, President Lai Ching-te met with a study delegation from the Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP). In remarks, President Lai stated that Japan and Taiwan have deep ties of friendship, and that the two nations share a strong belief in the values of democracy and freedom. With global circumstances rapidly changing, the president expressed hope to continue enhancing cooperation, not only to stabilize the regional situation, but also to boost the resilience of both countries’ economies and bring about win-win outcomes for the economies and industries of both Taiwan and Japan. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I want to first extend a warm welcome to our good friends in the LDP Youth Division, who are once again visiting Taiwan. This past May, I met with Japanese House of Representatives Members Nakasone Yasutaka, Hiranuma Shojiro, and Katou Ryusho, as well as House of Councillors Member Kamiya Masayuki at the Presidential Office, and I am happy that LDP Youth Division Central Standing Committee Chair Suda Akira has also joined the delegation to exchange views on various topics today. I want to thank the LDP Youth Division for the many years it has played a key role in Taiwan-Japan exchanges and spurred deeper bilateral understanding and cooperation. Japan and Taiwan have deep ties of friendship. Whenever Taiwan has faced difficulties, Japan has always lent a helping hand and offered warmth. After a major earthquake struck Taiwan on April 3 last year, the LDP Youth Division raised donations to support reconstruction. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and many members of the Japanese Diet also expressed condolences when Taiwan was hit by typhoons and torrential rains these last two months. Such gestures have deeply moved us. Taiwan and Japan share a strong belief in the values of democracy and freedom. In the face of expanding authoritarianism, I again thank the government of Japan, from former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo to Prime Minister Ishiba, for continually emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait at US-Japan summits, G7 leaders’ summits, Quadrilateral Security Dialogues, and other international venues. With global circumstances rapidly changing, I look forward to Taiwan and Japan working together amid the shifting geopolitical landscape, not only to stabilize the regional situation, but also to continue enhancing cooperation and competitiveness in such industries as semiconductors, AI, military, security and surveillance, and next-generation communications. This will boost the resilience of both our economies, bringing about win-win outcomes for the economies and industries of both Taiwan and Japan. House of Representatives Member Nakasone, who also serves as the director of the LDP Youth Division, then delivered remarks, stating that Taiwan and Japan share many universal values and have common interests in addition to substantive cooperation in many areas. Taiwan-Japan relations are now better than ever, he said, and expressed hope that based on this strong foundation, we can work together to enhance mutual cooperation, with the Youth Division providing support. Director Nakasone expressed condolences for the recent typhoons and torrential rains in Taiwan, which impacted many people. Taiwan and Japan both experience natural disasters frequently, he said, but they lend a helping hand to each other every time a disaster occurs. He noted that next year, Japan will formally establish a disaster prevention agency whose main tasks include international cooperation. He then expressed hope that both countries will share disaster prevention-related intelligence, information, and experience, and strengthen cooperation in this field. Director Nakasone indicated that there are numerous wars going on in the world right now, as well as frequent attempts to change the status quo by force in various places. Among them, Taiwan is facing a tense situation in the Taiwan Strait, and Japan is similarly facing threats from China, Russia, and North Korea. He stated that we must show, both at home and abroad, the determination to save one’s own country, and establish the mechanisms to do so. Taiwan and Japan, as trusted partners, must closely cooperate to promote regional peace and stability, the director said. Noting that in his remarks, President Lai had mentioned cooperation in semiconductors, Director Nakasone said that both sides have strengths not only in semiconductors, but also in next-generation communications and AI. There are many things that Japan can learn from Taiwan, he said, and expressed hope that cooperation in related fields can boost the industrial competitiveness of both countries. Director Nakasone said that currently, whether for Japan or Taiwan, governing is not easy. In particular, he said, the rise of social media platforms has made the democratic system even more complex; however, government leaders must protect the people and the nation. He then expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan will work together to address these challenges, and that the younger generation will also play an important role. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.
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2025-08-01
President Lai delivers remarks on US reciprocal tariff policy response
On the morning of August 1, President Lai Ching-te delivered remarks at the Presidential Office on the response to the reciprocal tariff policy of the United States. President Lai explained that technical consultations with the US are finished, but as the final concluding meeting has not yet taken place, 20 percent has been set for Taiwan as an interim tariff rate. The president said that Taiwan will work towards a more favorable and reasonable rate in the subsequent negotiations, and that the US has expressed its willingness to continue talks. He added that a support plan for Taiwan’s export supply chain in response to US tariffs has been proposed to assist small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in responding to the US tariff policy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Earlier today, the US government informed our lead negotiator, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君), that an interim tariff rate for Taiwan has been set at 20 percent. Since April 2, when the US introduced its new tariff policy targeting countries worldwide, Taiwan has actively engaged in four in-person rounds of negotiation and multiple discussions over videoconference with the US government. Throughout the process, both sides have negotiated in good faith based on the shared goal of addressing the trade deficit between Taiwan and the US and creating complementary and mutually beneficial outcomes. Although we have achieved an interim reduction in the tariff rate from 32 percent to 20 percent at this point in the negotiations, 20 percent was never our goal. We hope to work towards a more favorable and reasonable rate for Taiwan in the subsequent negotiations, and the US has expressed its willingness to continue talks. We have finished technical consultations, but as the final concluding meeting has not yet taken place, a final tariff rate has not yet been reached. This is the reason for the setting of an interim tariff rate. I extend my sincere gratitude to Vice Premier Cheng and Minister without Portfolio of the Executive Yuan Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮) for working tirelessly over the past few months leading the negotiation team, remaining on call whether in Taiwan or the US. From here in Taiwan I, along with Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), and Secretary-General Pan Men-an (潘孟安), have also provided full support to our negotiating team in the US. Regardless of the final tariff rate, Taiwan’s industries will inevitably be impacted. I am deeply grateful to Premier Cho for proposing on April 4 a support plan for Taiwan’s export supply chain in response to US tariffs, and for holding over 20 industry consultation sessions. The special budget has also been increased from NT$88 billion to NT$93 billion. This special act has already been submitted to the Legislative Yuan and passed review. I hope that the Executive Yuan will promptly submit the budget request for legislative review so that the special budget can be implemented as soon as possible to assist SMEs in responding to this new US tariff policy.
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