Companies are trying to figure out how best to respond to new and unique challenges, while staying vigilant about the unexpected. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, wreaking havoc on economies throughout the world, companies are struggling to come up with ways to keep business operational, as well as employees and clientele safe. Taiwan,…
TOPICS’ first editorial, published in March 2002 – The situation has improved, but some of the content remains relevant 18 years later. The recent formation of Taiwan’s new Cabinet provides a good opportunity to review the difficulties faced by international companies attempting to implement a globalized business model in Taiwan. Much has been done to…
The novel coronavirus or COVID-19 brings numerous potential and actual legal risks, ranging from the supply chain to human resource matters. Following the declaration by the World Health Organization (where Taiwan unfortunately has neither membership nor observer status) of a public health emergency at the end of January, businesses need to take precautions regarding affected…
5G AUCTION EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS Taiwan has completed both phases of its 5G spectrum auction, raising a total of NT$142.19 billion (US$4.7 billion), the third-highest amount worldwide behind Germany and Italy. The first phase of the auction, which took place between December 10 and January 16 and involved 261 rounds, offered 270 MHz in the 3.5GHz…
Despite some negative public attitudes, this business practice has been highly popular with local consumers and would-be entrepreneurs. Few businesses face greater reputational challenges in Taiwan than the multi-level marketing (MLM) industry, also known as network marketing or direct selling. Past unethical practices by a minority of companies have caused the industry to be heavily…
Government measures to cool the residential property market have been successful, but prices remain high in the most desirable markets, putting homeownership out of reach for many Taiwanese. The Taiwan government has spent years trying to cool a red-hot residential property market. Measured in terms of controlling price growth, the policies have borne fruit. The…
More and more young Taiwanese are choosing to own and raise pets instead of having children, causing a surge in the pet-care market and opening the door for a wide variety of new products and services. Rather than having children, an increasing number of young Taiwanese are opting to raise pets. A Council of Agriculture…
Atlas Copco Taiwan General Manager John Demers didn’t do much international travel during his early years growing up in Canada, but he now considers himself a long-term expat and can’t imagine life any other way. He is happy to bring his robust knowledge of industry and his well-formed management skills wherever they are needed –…
Taiwan Feed-in Tariffs Raised Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) in late December announced changes in the feed-in tariff (FiT) rate to be offered for various categories of renewable energy in 2020. The rate for solar photovoltaic power generation, which includes the cost of solar panel recycling, will be cut to NT$3.9408-$5.7788 per kilowatt-hour, depending…
Several major global economic and political factors – namely, the U.S.-China trade dispute, Brexit, the protests in Hong Kong, as well as volatile oil and commodity prices – cast a shadow in the past year over global demand, trade, and industrial production. In Taiwan, the presidential election and cross-Strait relationship added uncertainty, potentially dampening the…
