The number of U.S. state offices in Taiwan has quadrupled in recent years, with 24 states now actively pursuing investment and trade opportunities in Taiwan. This surge is driven by Taiwan’s growing role in foreign direct investment, as seen with TSMC’s massive project in Arizona, and the need for U.S. states to attract Taiwanese companies seeking to diversify beyond the Chinese market.
For the first time in over two decades, Taiwanese investments in the United States surpassed those in China, signaling a significant realignment of Taiwan’s economic priorities amid shifting global trade dynamics. Driven by major players like TSMC and bolstered by U.S. incentives, this trend reflects deeper U.S.-Taiwan ties and a strategic move to diversify operations and mitigate risks.
By Nikki Dong and Alex Myslinski Lai Embarks On South Pacific Tour President Lai Ching-te on November 30 departed for his first overseas trip since taking office in May. His itinerary, lasting through December 6, includes stopovers in Hawaii and Guam en route to visiting the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, Taiwan’s three diplomatic allies in…
Taiwan’s economy has thrived this year, fueled by strong demand for high-tech exports and vibrant domestic consumption and investment. However, uncertainties such as U.S. trade policies, a slowing Chinese economy, and geopolitical tensions pose challenges for 2025. While economic growth is expected to moderate, Taiwan’s resilience in innovation and global markets continues to drive optimism.
Despite reticence from Sofia on closer relations with Taipei, trade officials and businesspeople on both sides remain optimistic about progress.
BY JULIA BERGSTRÖM AND HUNG-WEI CHEN Exports Up, Confidence Down Export orders grew in August, mainly due to the launch of new Apple products and increasing demand for new technologies, which supported a 2% year-on-year increase to US$54.59 billion, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). This was the best-ever August performance by Taiwan’s…
In recent years, Taiwan has steadily climbed up the ladder of major trading partners of the United States. Between 2018 and 2021, the value of two-way trade in goods rose by 50% from US$76 billion to US$114 billion, according to U.S. government data. That growth enabled Taiwan to move up one notch each year in…
President Biden’s declaration during his trip to Asia last month that the United States would defend Taiwan has put the nature of the U.S. relationship with Taiwan back at the center of American foreign policy concerns. This development has fueled further discussion about how, apart from military involvement, the United States can best assist Taiwan….
Taiwan’s government has taken immediate steps to implement export controls and other measures to limit economic activity between Taiwan and Russia following the latter’s invasion of Ukraine. Within a day of Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would join the U.S., EU countries, and other nations in…
By Dexter Murray Raising Interest Rates to Fight Inflation Taiwan’s Central Bank in late March raised its 2022 GDP growth forecast to 4.05%, up slightly from the 4.03% it predicted last December. The revision shows that despite slowing growth in Taiwan’s largest export markets and global uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine, the Central Bank’s…
