On June 23, 2021, Coalition member the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan released the 2021 Taiwan White Paper and introduced plans for a Taiwan Commercial Initiative (TCI). The TCI will be a six-track strategic approach to enhancing U.S.-Taiwan economic and business ties, and will pave the way towards the ultimate goal – a U.S.-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
“The TCI urges expansion of the Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue (EPPD) initiated by the State Department last November by encompassing business participation. In addition, it calls for the U.S. Department of Commerce and Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs to develop transaction-oriented, public-private platforms to promote two-way trade and investment, Taiwan’s inclusion in new and existing plurilateral economic agreement, and conclusion of a U.S.-Taiwan double-taxation pact. These overlapping workstreams are seem as reinforcing one another and paving the way for the sixth and final goal: a U.S.-Taiwan BTA.”
Source: AmCham Releases 2021 White Paper and Introduces the Taiwan Commercial Initiative
“The stars are aligning for a sharp upgrade in U.S.-Taiwan economic relations. Through the TCI, AmCham is calling for more platforms and more private sector involvement.”
Source: AmCham Taiwan President Andrew Wylegala
The US-Taiwan BTA Coalition is excited about the TCI announcement and the Chamber’s ongoing support for a Taiwan BTA, and looks forward to working with AmCham Taiwan to further the TCI’s goals.