On August 5, 2022, the Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece by its editorial board entitled, “Another Way to Help Taiwan—and America.” The piece argues for a bilateral trade deal between the U.S. and Taiwan as a “non-military way” to expand ties.
A trade deal with the U.S. would reassure Taiwanese that the U.S. will stay engaged economically. And it would also reassure the rest of Asia, especially Japan and the Asean countries of Southeast Asia, that the U.S. is there to stay.
The piece comes after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s August 2, 2022 trip to Taiwan.
After meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, the House Speaker said she discussed “a trade agreement that might be possible and soon.” That’s good news, and the Democrats now running Washington could move with dispatch to help Taiwan withstand China’s economic coercion.
The US-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement Coalition welcomes this support for a BTA with Taiwan.