Taiwan has pledged to work closely with the United States to ensure previously agreed trade terms remain intact, following the US Supreme Court decision striking down former President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun said on Tuesday.
Trump had warned countries against backing away from recent trade agreements, threatening higher duties under alternative trade laws.
Taiwan has reached two key agreements with the US: the first, signed last month, cut tariffs on Taiwanese exports to 15% from 20% and involved a commitment by Taiwanese companies to invest $250 billion in US semiconductor, energy, and AI production. Taiwan also pledged an additional $250 billion in credit to facilitate further investments.
The second agreement, concluded this month, reaffirmed the 15% tariff and set a schedule for Taiwan to reduce or eliminate tariffs on nearly all US goods, while boosting purchases of American products, including natural gas.
Cheng, who led the negotiations, said Taipei has already engaged with Washington, though she did not specify the officials involved.
“I think our contacts so far have also been positive. The US side understands that this is an agreement that benefits both sides. I believe we can achieve this objective, and we are confident that we can do so,” she told reporters, referring to last month’s Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART).
Cheng stressed that this is not a reopening of negotiations. Taiwan aims to work with the US to ensure its companies continue receiving preferential treatment under existing deals, even as Washington examines other tariff measures.
Countries with existing agreements should have a “relatively advantageous foundation when facing any future alternative tools the US might adopt through new legal avenues,” she added.
Preferential tariffs for Taiwan’s semiconductor exports will remain in place, though Cheng cautioned that the country’s substantial trade surplus with the US could pose future risks.