The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan called for clear U.S. action on trade, defense, and investment to keep the bilateral partnership on solid ground.

Amid mounting geopolitical tensions and shifting dynamics in U.S. domestic politics, AmCham Taiwan’s 2025 Doorknock to Washington, D.C. highlighted Taiwan’s enduring strategic and economic importance to the United States — and the need for tangible policy outcomes to sustain the bilateral relationship in an evolving Washington.

Over a packed week of more than 40 meetings with U.S. executive agencies, Congressional offices, think tanks, and private sector stakeholders, the Chamber’s delegation delivered a focused message: Taiwan is not only a reliable ally, but a pivotal actor in the world’s most vital supply chains, defense strategies, and technological ecosystems.

Led by AmCham President Carl Wegner, the delegation arrived in Washington at a time of flux. Bipartisan support for Taiwan remains strong, with both parties acknowledging the island’s role in global innovation and Indo-Pacific stability. At the same time, shifting dynamics in American politics have brought new volatility to traditional channels of engagement.

“The U.S.-Taiwan relationship is built on shared values and mutual benefit — and there’s still so much untapped potential,” says AmCham President Carl Wegner. “This Doorknock reminded us that support runs deep, and with the right engagement we can take the partnership to the next level.”

Trade, tariffs, and tax reform

At the center of the Chamber’s policy agenda was seeking early passage of the U.S.-Taiwan Expedited Double Tax Relief Act, a bill that would resolve the longstanding issue of double taxation between the two economies. The Act is widely viewed as essential to unlock further bilateral investment, particularly for small and medium-sized Taiwanese enterprises supplying large-scale operations like the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) fabs in Arizona.

While the measure enjoys strong bipartisan support, Senate procedures and inclusion of the measure within a larger legislative package have slowed momentum. The U.S. side noted that securing floor time remains a critical hurdle, and proposed options have included pursuing a standalone vehicle or informal commitment from Senate leadership.

In many of the meetings in D.C., delegation members were encouraged to extend overall advocacy outreach to more policymakers and media audiences. Strategic communication — emphasizing job creation, industrial resilience, and fair treatment for committed allies — was seen as key to maintaining progress in strengthening the bilateral relationship.

Regarding U.S.-Taiwan trade relations, the focus has shifted from the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade promoted during the Biden administration to a new round of talks on what the Trump administration has termed “reciprocal tariffs.” Taiwan’s strong offer and cooperative posture in the negotiations were widely praised, particularly its willingness to tackle non-traditional issues such as digital services taxes and financial sector access. Still, questions remain about the long-term durability of any deal concluded outside the legislative process.

Persistent ambiguity around potential Section 232 tariffs (a trade enforcement tool originally designed to address national security risks in key industries) on semiconductors continues to pose a risk to Taiwan’s exporters. Although Taiwan is currently considered a low-risk jurisdiction, several interlocutors flagged the possibility that Taiwanese chipmakers could be swept into broader U.S. trade actions.

AmCham urged U.S. government agencies to consider mechanisms that insulate trusted partners like Taiwan from blunt trade enforcement tools. Proposals included developing a positive list of exempted goods or stipulating Taiwan’s designation as a strategic partner.

Defense and security

Taiwan’s evolving defense posture also featured prominently in Doorknock discussions. Taiwan’s defense budget is rising to 3% of GDP this year with the addition of a special allocation, signaling a clear commitment to deterrence. However, further increases to 5% (divided between traditional defense and broader resilience) were identified by some on the Hill as necessary to meet the region’s growing security challenges.

The Chamber delegation emphasized Taiwan’s efforts to streamline procurement, reform conscription, and improve reserve training. At the same time, delays in Foreign Military Sales deliveries, export licensing, and challenges related to formal requests for specific defense equipment continue to create bottlenecks. There is growing interest in Washington in co-production opportunities, particularly for dual-use and software-based uncrewed aerial systems, but scaling such arrangements will require both governments to establish the formal agreements necessary to authorize and protect collaboration.

There was broad agreement that Taiwan’s integration into the U.S. defense industrial base would benefit both partners, particularly if anchored in joint planning and aligned budgeting over a multiyear horizon.

The need to defend against gray-zone threats to Taiwan’s security — cyber intrusions, coercive economic behavior, and maritime harassment — was also a common theme. Participants from industry and government discussed the importance of asymmetric capabilities and broad societal participation to build resilience across both civilian and military domains.

In addition to conventional deterrence, participants discussed the importance of strengthening national defense against hybrid threats. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s Whole-of-Society Resilience framework — a cross-sector approach that engages government, industry, and civil society — has begun to shape broader international conversations over the past year. Some officials and policy experts expressed interest in extending the model throughout the Indo-Pacific region to better prepare for supply chain disruptions, political coercion, and potential conflict.

AmCham representatives highlighted member contributions to business continuity planning (BCP) and the importance of maintaining operational resilience in high-risk environments. Several counterparts noted that Taiwan’s globally integrated industries — particularly in semiconductors, data infrastructure, and logistics — make it a bellwether for Indo-Pacific economic security. Concrete suggestions included the development of joint BCP toolkits, scenario exercises, and public-private task forces on crisis response.

Readjusted supply chains

As the United States navigates intensifying strategic competition with China, Taiwan’s role has expanded well beyond that of a trade and investment partner to a cornerstone of U.S. economic security and technological leadership. In areas like semiconductors, AI hardware, drone technology, and secure data infrastructure, Taiwan sits at the epicenter of a global supply chain realignment that aims to reduce dependence on authoritarian regimes and reinforce shared democratic values.

Policymakers and think tanks urged Taiwan to frame itself not as a competitor but as an enabler of American industrial goals. The consensus was that duplicating Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem on U.S. soil is neither financially viable nor technically feasible in the short term. Instead, Taiwan should be positioned as an indispensable partner in maintaining U.S. leadership in high-tech sectors.

Discussions throughout the Doorknock highlighted Taiwan’s potential contributions to a “Democratic Supply Chain” and emerging coalitions such as the proposed T7 (Technology 7) Partnership. This framework envisions a trusted ecosystem of like-minded economies collaborating on critical technologies, rare earths, and next-generation innovation, free from undue political influence or coercion. Taiwan’s early and sustained involvement in these efforts will be critical to their success.

As the United States retools its industrial policy around resilience, transparency, and friendshoring, Taiwan’s ability to project confidence, scale partnerships, and support small and medium-sized players across its ecosystem will shape how deeply it is integrated into the next generation of U.S. strategy. Public-private collaboration, policy consistency, and targeted investment were all identified as enablers of this future alignment.

The stakes are clear. As one government official put it, “If the U.S. wants to outcompete China, it cannot do so without Taiwan.”

Engaging Washington

This year’s Doorknock underscored the need for AmCham to navigate an increasingly complex political landscape in Washington. The growing influence of personality-driven politics, disparate media narratives, and ideological divisions has disrupted traditional modes of advocacy.

Some think tanks urged AmCham to expand its outreach beyond government and institutional partners, engaging key voices in media, including the business press, and digital platforms. Messages emphasizing American job creation, defense readiness, and economic resilience were identified as particularly effective in bridging partisan divides.

AmCham used the Doorknock to highlight Taiwan’s expanding role across a range of critical sectors. Beyond semiconductors, the delegation pointed to Taiwan’s growing importance in AI hardware, drone technology, advanced manufacturing, and data center infrastructure. Delegates further showcased the potential for deeper U.S.-Taiwan collaboration in clean energy, geothermal development, and digital infrastructure.

At the same time, the Doorknock members stressed that continued major Taiwanese investment in the United States will depend on greater regulatory clarity, particularly around tariffs. While major companies like TSMC can absorb policy shocks, smaller suppliers and mid-sized investors face greater risk sensitivity.

Taiwan’s proposed sovereign wealth fund could potentially play a strategic role in advancing bilateral economic objectives. Specifically, targeted investments in semiconductor ecosystems, renewable energy infrastructure, and AI-enabling technologies were identified as high-impact areas aligned with both U.S. industrial policy and Taiwan’s long-term growth strategy. However, due to political, institutional, and practical challenges, Taiwan has yet to establish the fund.

A message worth repeating

As in past years, the Doorknock group distributed a handout pinpointing key facts about the bilateral relationship: Taiwan is America’s eighth-largest goods trading partner, the world’s top producer of advanced semiconductors, and a vibrant democracy aligned with U.S. values. Taiwanese companies have invested billions in the United States, generating thousands of jobs and anchoring strategic supply chains.

“This trip confirmed that support in the U.S. for Taiwan remains strong — but it also reminded us that advocacy approaches must evolve,” says AmCham President Wegner. “We need to meet Washington where it is, not where it was five years ago.”

Looking ahead, AmCham will share its findings with the Taiwan government and the American Institute in Taiwan, helping inform future coordination efforts across trade, defense, and investment. Follow-up initiatives will include renewed outreach, coordination with state governments, and continued backing of legislative progress on double taxation and trade negotiations.

In a shifting political landscape, the 2025 Doorknock affirmed one constant: Taiwan’s partnership with the United States remains indispensable — but it must be actively nurtured, protected, and expanded through concrete policy action.